Trump refuses to say he will accept election results

dimeji akinloye

October 20, 2016 3:59 AM

In the third and final presidential debate, Trump said he would wait to decide whether the outcome was legitimate.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton leaves the stage following the final US presidential debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump in Las Vegas on October 19, 2016

Republican candidate

In the third and final presidential debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, Trump said he would wait to decide whether the outcome was legitimate.

"I will tell you at the time, I will keep you in suspense," Trump said.

Clinton responded: "Let's be clear about what he is saying and what that means: He is denigrating, he is talking down our democracy and I for one am appalled that someone who is the nominee for one of our two major parties would take that position."

In a fiery debate that centered more on policy than the earlier showdowns, Trump accused Clinton's campaign of orchestrating a series of accusations by women who said the businessman made unwanted sexual advances against them.

Trump said all of the stories were "totally false" and suggested Clinton was behind the charges. He called her campaign "sleazy."

"I think they either want fame or her campaign did it, and I think it's her campaign," Trump said.

Clinton said the women came forward after Trump said in the last debate he had never made unwanted advances on women. In a 2005 video, Trump was recorded bragging about groping women against their will.

"Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger. He goes after their dignity, their self-worth and I don't think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't know what that feels like," Clinton said. She cited other minorities she said Trump had maligned.

"This is a pattern. A pattern of divisiveness, of a very dark and in many ways dangerous vision of our country where he incites violence, where he applauds people who are pushing and pulling and punching at his rallies. That is not who America is," she said.

Trump seeks to reverse his fading momentum in an election that opinion polls show is tilting away from him. The New York businessman has raised concerns by claiming the election will be rigged against him. He has urged supporters to patrol polling places in inner cities to prevent voter fraud.

The two presidential rivals had tough but issues-based exchanges on abortion, gun rights and immigration during the 90-minute showdown.

dimeji akinloye