Chris McDaniel remains defiant, angrily questions 'the sanctity of the vote' for Cochran

Chris McDaniel remains defiant, angrily questions 'the sanctity of the vote' for Cochran
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Chris McDaniel, the Tea Party–backed challenger for U.S. Senate in the Mississippi Republican primary, is not taking his loss all that well. Instead, he is now fully challenging the moral legitimacy — and perhaps even the legal legitimacy — of incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran's victory.

The Cochran campaign had reached out to African-American voters, who often vote Democratic, to vote in the Republican runoff in order to stop the more extreme McDaniel. Cochran has won the race with just under 51 percent of the vote.

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He later added: "And today, the conservative movement took a backseat to liberal Democrats in the state of Mississippi. In the most conservative state in the Republic, this happened. And if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere. And that's why we will never stop fighting."

McDaniel also explained to the cheering crowd: "As you know, folks, there were literally dozens of irregularities reported all across this state. And you know why. You read the stories. You're familiar with the problems that we have. Now it's our job to make sure that the sanctity of the vote is upheld. Before this race ends, we have to be absolutely certain that the Republican primary was won by Republican voters. And so we will stand with courage, we will stand with judgment, we will stand with integrity, and we will stand with dedication."

To watch the speech, via C-Span, click here.

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