Karl Rove Warns That a Guilty Verdict Could Cost Trump Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania

Fox News contributor and veteran political strategist Karl Rove said that a guilty verdict in presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s hush money trial could cost him the key swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania on Thursday.

During an appearance on America Reports, Rove was asked to evaluate a recent NPR/PBS Newshour poll gauging how voters might react to a conviction. It found that 15% of both registered and independent voters would be more likely to vote for Trump in the case of a guilty verdict, while 17% of the former group and 11% of the latter would be less likely to support him. The remainders in both groups said a conviction would make no difference to their decision.

“If he’s acquitted, does he become Teflon?” Fox’s John Roberts asked Rove.

“Well, I think if he is acquitted he does become Teflon. This will be the last case, the only case that’s heard before the elections,” began Rove before moving on to the bad news for Trump. “But if he is found con-, if he is found guilty, let’s not underestimate that there is a problem.”

“Think about this. Those numbers, like 11% less likely to vote for him, think about Michigan where they’re, in the RealClearPolitics average, Donald Trump is up by one half of 1%. Or Pennsylvania, where he’s up by 2%, or Wisconsin, where he’s up by 3/10 of 1%,” he continued. “So in a close race, like we’re likely to have, having 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11% of the electorate less likely to vote for you is a problem.”

Roberts later challenged him on this point.

“I was never any good at math, but it seems to me that if — take a look at independent voters — if 11% are less likely to vote for you if you’re convicted, but 15% are more likely to vote for you, isn’t that a net gain?” he asked.

“Well, but let’s let’s be clear about who the more likely are: They’re the passionate supporters of the president. And we’re not likely to have people who are undecided today who suddenly say, ‘Oh, as a matter of, since he was found not guilty in this, or if I’m convicted of this, I’m going to be more likely to vote for him.’ Those are the people who are the hardcore of the true believers,” replied Rove.

Watch above via Fox News.