Trump says he'll 'fight like hell' to hold on to presidency

 With mounting desperation, Donald Trump declared he would “fight like hell” to hold on to presidency and appealed to Republican lawmakers to reverse his election loss to Joe Biden when y convene this week to confirm Electoral College vote.

Electoral voters won by President-elect Biden are "t gonna take this White House!” he shouted as supporters cheered at an outdoor rally Monday night in Georgia. Trump's anunced purpose for trip was to boost Republican Senate candidates in Tuesday's ruff election, but he spent much of his speech complaining bitterly about his election loss — which he insists he won “by a lot.”

Earlier, in Washington, he pressed Republican lawmakers to formally object Wednesday at a joint session of Congress that is to confirm Biden's victory in Electoral College, itself a confirmation of Biden's nationwide victory v. 3.

Though he got thing but cheers Monday night, Trump's attempt to overturn presidential election i s splitting Republican Party. Some GOP lawmakers backing him are rushing ahe, despite an outpouring of condemnation from current and former party officials warning effort is undermining Americans’ faith in democracy. All 10 living former defense secretaries wrote in an op-ed that " time for questioning results has passed."

It’s unclear extent to which GOP leers in Congress will be able to control Wednesday’s joint session, which could drag into night, though challenges to election are all but certain to fail. Trump himself is whipping up crowds for a Wednesday rally near White House.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is under pressure to tip results for Trump, will be closely watched as he presides in a ceremonial role over Wednesday’s joint session.

“I promise you this: On Wednesday, we’ll have our day in Congress,” Pence said while himself campaigning in Georgia ahe of Tuesday’s ruff elections that will determine control of Senate.

Trump said in Georgia: “I hope that our great vice president comes through for us. He’s a great guy. Of course, if he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him quite as much.” He ded, “, Mike is a great guy.”

One of Georgia Republicans in Tuesday's ruff — Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who faces Democrat Raphael Warck — told crowd she will join senators formally objecting to Biden’s win. or Republican seeking reelection, David Perdue, who is running against Democrat Jon Ossoff, will t be eligible to vote.

Trump repeated numerous times his claims of election fraud, which have been rejected by election officials — Republican as well as Democratic in state after state — and courts up to U.S. Supreme Court. His former attorney general, William Barr, also has said re is evidence of fraud that could change election outcome.

congressional effort to keep Trump in office is being led by Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas, along with rank-and-file House members, some on party's fringe.

“Just got off phone with @realDonaldTrump,” tweeted newly elected Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who is aligned with a conspiracy group backing Trump.

“He wants you to call your Rep & Senators TODAY, ALL DAY!" she tweeted Monday. "Don’t let Republicans be Surrender Caucus!” She later joined president on Air Force One as he traveled to Georgia.

Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell has tried to prevent his party from engaging in this battle, which could help define GOP in post-Trump era. House Mirity Leer Kevin McCarthy, a Trump ally, has declined to say much publicly on it.

Both Hawley and Cruz are potential 2024 presidential contenders, vying for Trump's base of supporters.

Biden, speaking at a drive-in rally in Atlanta, said Trump “spends more time whining and complaining” than he does working on solving coronavirus pandemic. He ded dismissively, “I don’t kw why he still wants job — he doesn’t want to do work.”

During day Monday, more current and former GOP officials rebuked effort to upend election.

Former three-term Sen. John Danforth of Missouri said in a stinging statement, “Lending credence to Trump’s false claim that election was stolen is a highly destructive attack." He said, "It is opposite of conservative; it is rical."

Two current Republican senators, Rob Portman of Ohio and Mike Lee of Utah, joined growing number who w oppose legislators' challenge.

Portman said in a statement, “I cant support allowing Congress to thwart will of voters.”

At Dalton rally, Trump ted he was a “little angry” at Lee, but expressed hope that senator would change his mind. “We need his vote,” Trump said.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, giant lobbying organization and virtual embodiment of business establishment, said electoral vote challenge “undermines our democracy and rule of law and will only result in furr division across our nation.”

So far, Trump has enlisted support from a dozen Republican senators and up to 100 House Republicans to challenge Biden’s 306-232 Electoral College win.

With Biden set to be inaugurated Jan. 20, Trump is intensifying efforts to prevent tritional transfer of power. On a call disclosed Sunday, he can be heard pressuring Georgia officials to “find” him more votes from v. 3 election he lost in that state.

challenge to presidential election is on a scale unseen since aftermath of Civil War, though typically routine process of confirming Electoral College votes has been hit with brief objections before. In 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump’s win, but Biden, who presided at time as vice president, swiftly dismissed m to assert Trump’s victory.

States run ir own elections, and Congress has been loath to interfere.

“ 2020 election is over,” said a statement Sunday from a bipartisan group of 10 senators, including Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah.

A range of Republican officials — including Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland; Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, third-ranking House GOP leer; and former House Speaker Paul Ryan — have criticized GOP efforts to overturn election.

Hawley defended his actions in a lengthy email over weekend to colleagues, saying his Missouri constituents have been “loud and clear” in insisting Biden's defeat of Trump was unfair.

Cruz's coalition of 11 Republican senators vows to reject Electoral College tallies unless Congress launches a commission to immediately conduct an audit of election results. Congress is unlikely to agree to that.

group, which presented new evidence of election problems, includes Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hrty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

(Im credit: AP)