David Axelrod: Electoral College Voting Against Trump ‘Would Split the Country Apart’

On the day that the Electoral College meets, former Obama adviser David Axelrod appeared on CNN’s New Day to explain why, despite protests and widespread attempts to dissuade the electors, the Electoral College needs to reflect the will of the individual states’ voters.

Axelrod pointed out right away that he believes Donald Trump will get the necessary votes to officially win the election and he sees very few electors actually switching. He also expressed sympathy for electors who have received death threats.

While acknowledging that Alexander Hamilton envisioned the Electoral College as a “buffer against democracy run amok,” the veteran Democratic strategist also noted that it has never been used in history to reverse the outcome.

“To have it happen now, despite the fact that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote and all that’s swirling around with Russia and so on,” Axelrod stated. “I believe would split the country apart in a really destructive way and it would set this mad cycle in which every election the Electoral College vote would be in question.”

He went on to also discuss with co-host Chris Cuomo the viewpoint of voting your conscience and what it really means for electors.

Watch the exchange above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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