Former Vice President Dan Quayle, a Republican and the only surviving member of the last incumbent presidential ticket to be defeated in a re-election campaign, said today that it was time for President Trump to accept the election results.
The New York Times: “You know, it’s tough in defeat,” said Quayle, who was vice president to President George Bush when the ticket lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.
“Unfortunately, we were the last incumbent president to lose, and it’s not easy,” he said. “But we’ve had enough time to look at what’s going on, there have been a lot of allegations they continue to investigate, but from my viewpoint I don’t think there’s any systemic fraud.”
He added: “It’s time to move on, and therefore I hope that there’s some sort of announcement from the White House sooner rather than later.”
Quayle’s words are notable in part because he is among the few current or former Republican elected officials who has made such a statement, as Trump has maintained that he actually won the election that he lost.
Quayle said he thought that more Republicans would take a stand if Trump and his allies “move forward aggressively and continue to indicate that the election is not conclusive.”
“I think as time goes on that more and more people will speak out,” he said.
Quayle is among the few current and former Republican leaders who have acknowledged Biden’s electoral win.
Four GOP senators – Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Susan Collins (Maine) – have issued statements congratulating Biden on the win.
Four Republican governors – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine have also done so.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in a lengthy floor statement today declined to congratulate Biden or recognize him as the president-elect and instead defended President Trump’s legal fight against ballot counts showing him behind in key states.
The GOP leader did not say there had been voter fraud in the election or suggest the election had been stolen from Trump, the claims Trump has been making without evidence.
Quayle said he had left President-elect Joe Biden a message but hadn’t yet connected with him.
“I’ve known him for 40 years, he’s a good guy,” he said. “I wish him well.”