Durbin: Hillary Clinton is ‘flat-out wrong’ in saying Biden ‘should not concede under any circumstances’

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sunday that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is “flat-out wrong” in saying Democratic nominee Joe Biden “should not concede under any circumstances.”

Durbin told ABC’s “This Week” that he disagreed with Clinton’s comments on “The Recount” last month that Biden should avoid conceding because the election will “drag out” because of increased mail-in voting. 

“I disagree with Hillary Clinton,” he said. “I respect her. I like her. But I think she’s just flat-out wrong.”

“I think she’s flat out wrong,” Sen. Durbin tells @GStephanopoulos on Hillary Clinton saying Biden “should not concede under any circumstances.”

“If we are going to maintain a democracy, peaceful transition through an election is the only way to do it.” https://t.co/zTNMzk2uyg pic.twitter.com/8oYO5oBzpv

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 27, 2020

Durbin addressed Clinton’s remarks from an August interview that Biden “should not concede under any circumstances,” citing that the election results are “gonna drag out” because of the influx in mail-in voting due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Eventually, I do believe he will win if we don’t give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is,” the 2016 Democratic nominee told former aide Jennifer Palmieri on Showtime’s “The Circus.”

Hillary Clinton has some advice for Joe Biden: Don’t concede in a close race.

The 2016 nominee sits down with @jmpalmieri and @sho_thecircus to urge Dems to pay close attention to GOP strategy. pic.twitter.com/REwfLf1QjS

— The Recount (@therecount) August 24, 2020

Republicans have seized on Clinton’s remarks as they have sought to defend comments from President Trump, who this week refused to say he would commit to a peaceful transition of power. Trump has also repeatedly cast doubt on the validity of an election with more mail-in ballots, even though there is no evidence that there is more voter fraud because of such balloting. 

Many expect the results of this year’s election to be delayed because of all the mail-in ballots, and there also have been discussions about how Trump could have an early lead in some states if more GOP voters vote in person and mail-in ballots from Democrats are counted second.

Durbin, the second-ranking Democratic leader in the Senate, expressed confidence that the winner of the 2020 presidential election “will be announced at some point.”

“I hope my choice, Joe Biden, is elected president,” he said.

“But if we are going to maintain a democracy, peaceful transition through an election is the only way to do it,” he added, nodding toward Trump’s remarks.

“Just look at the streets of Belarus today if you want to see the alternative,” he added. Demonstrations after a disputed election in that country have been taking place for weeks

“We don’t need that in America. Whoever the winner is if it is clear and legal that should be announced and the other party should concede,” Durbin said.