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Trump “probably would have called” Washington “a loser”

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How crucial is Florida in this election? 06:18

COCONUT CREEK, Florida -- Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that her opponent, by refusing to accept the outcome of the election, is “making an unprecedented attack on our democracy” and American values that date back to George Washington.

“I think this all started when George Washington refused to become a king,” Clinton said at a rally at Broward College’s North Campus in Coconut Creek. “Right? Donald Trump probably would have called him a loser.”

At the third debate last week in Las Vegas, Trump said that he would keep Americans in “suspense” over whether or not he’d honor the results of the election, now just 14 days away. Clinton said that Trump’s words shouldn’t be taken lightly.

How crucial is Florida in this election? 06:18

“On January 20th,” she said, “the first thing a president does is to take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. And I have serious doubts about whether Donald Trump even understands what that means. In America, we don’t say we’re going to keep you in suspense about whether we will respect the outcome of an election. We have free and fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. That is one thing that makes America great.”

Clinton cited the number of people who have registered to vote, and are already turning out to vote early, as evidence that Americans are rejecting Trump’s candidacy. And speaking against a back drop of letter cut-outs spelling out “vote early,” Clinton encouraged her supporters to walk from her rally to a nearby early voting site to cast their vote.

“We have volunteers and staff ready to escort you so, hey, go ahead and vote now,” she said. “The bigger the turnout, the bigger statement we will make.”

The Democratic nominee has focused her travel in recent days on states where a large number — in some cases, a majority — are expected to vote before Election Day. Early voting started on Monday in Florida, where she is spending two days this week. 

“We don’t plan to lose Florida,” Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton’s communications director, told reporters on board the candidate’s flight to Fort Lauderdale earlier Tuesday. Palmieri said that Florida is one state, along with Pennsylvania, that Clinton can use to cut off Trump’s path to electoral victory.

“It’s the biggest prize,” she said. “And it’s a big priority for us. But we are lucky to have a number of paths.”

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