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US elections 2016: Is Trump really a threat to US democracy?

Here's what happened on the campaign trail the week of Oct. 17.

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Delaware, Ohio, U.S. October 20, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTX2PQYX
US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Delaware, Ohio, Oct. 20, 2016. — REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Watching news coverage of the Oct. 19 presidential debate leaves the impression that Donald Trump is dead set on challenging next month’s election if it doesn’t go his way.

“What I’m saying is that I will tell you at the time,” Trump told moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News. “I’ll keep you in suspense. OK?”

The backlash has been brutal.

Newspapers around the country called him a threat to US democracy. High-ranking Republicans continued to distance themselves from their sinking presidential nominee. Pundits predictably piled on.

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