Georgia-based Erick Erickson came out in support of a full hand recount in the state to “make sure the computer aligns with the printed page and either restore trust in the vote or realize the conspiracists had a point”:
I'm totally supportive of a hand recount in Georgia. We went through the trouble of having electronic machines that spit out paper ballots. Let's make sure the computer aligns with the printed page and either restore trust in the vote or realize the conspiracists had a point.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 10, 2020
But in a widely shared thread, he did explain how hard it will be to overturn the election results based on fraud:
A lot of people screaming about vote fraud don't really understand what they are talking about. As someone who actually defended elections (and challenged them) based on vote fraud, let me explain how daunting it is to throw out a statewide election on vote fraud.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
First, vote fraud happens. It happens in almost every election. But it is rarely enough to throw out even local races. But let's take Trump v. Biden in Michigan.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
Right now in Michigan, Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by 146,137 votes. If Republicans find 50,000 fraudulent votes in Michigan, Joe Biden would still lead by 96,137 votes. But wait, there's more…
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
37,706 people chose not to participate in the presidential election in Michigan, so the President's lawyers have to either find 146,137 votes that they are 100% sure were cast fraudulently in the presidential race or they have to find
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
183,843 fraudulent total votes because you aren't allowed to ask anyone how they voted. And that's just Michigan. If they proved that, then they'd subtract 16 electoral votes from Joe Biden. Assuming Biden has Georgia, he's still over 270. So now rinse and repeat for PA.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
The President's team can't just throw out the votes in one states, but must do the same thing in each state over 270 electoral college votes.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
It is not enough to show voter fraud. The standard is voter fraud to an extent that casts doubt on the election. That standard means the margin of the vote if proven specifically or the margin of the vote + margin of votes not cast in that race. It is very tough.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
Absolutely, we are going to find voter fraud. It happens every election. The question is how much and I've never seen voter fraud in the hundred thousand vote range. Hell, I've never seen it in the 10s of thousands vote range.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
In summary, get ready for President Biden:
All of that is to say Joe Biden is President-Elect of the United States and it is not going to change.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 9, 2020
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