Former Obama adviser and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Monday, arguing that repeated claims of election fraud undermine public confidence in the American electoral system and raise concerns ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

During an appearance on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” Axelrod was asked about Trump’s latest allegations that elections are being manipulated and what those remarks could signal politically moving forward.

Cooper said, “Obviously, the not surprising the president’s making baseless claims, again, about voter fraud of rigged elections. What do you think this signals for the midterms?

Axelrod responded by saying that the central issue is not the claims themselves, which he said have become familiar, but the motivation behind them.

“Well, listen, I think this is the important question. We’ve heard this now for years and years and years. So it isn’t surprising. The question is why? Why is he saying it? First of all, let’s say it’s absurd to suggest that this was rigged in order to kick out the Republicans, the frontrunners both in the mayor and the governor’s race would love to run against the Republicans. It is a very Democratic state. It’s an even more Democratic city.”

Axelrod argued that Democratic candidates in California would likely prefer Republican opponents in statewide and local races, particularly because of Trump’s standing in the state.

“Their chances are much greater running against Republicans, partly because they’re endorsed by Donald Trump, who is so unpopular in California.”

The longtime Democratic strategist then defended the integrity of the U.S. electoral process, pointing to extensive scrutiny of recent elections and rejecting claims that widespread fraud has been uncovered.

“The election system of the United States isn’t among the most corrupt in the world, it is a model for the world. It is. We had the most scrutinized election ever in 2020, and no, no appreciable fraud was found. That should be a source of pride. And for him to run down the system and implant this notion in his followers that somehow, if you lose that the system must be rigged is a sin on the 250th year of our Declaration of Independence, that is a sin on our country.”

{Matzav.com}