Trump adviser: Expect more aggressive poll watching in 2020

One of President Donald Trump's top reelection advisers told influential Republicans in swing state Wisconsin that the party has "traditionally" relied on voter suppression to compete in battleground states, according to an audio recording of a private event obtained by The Associated Press.

The adviser said later that his remarks referred to frequent and false accusations that Republicans employ such tactics.

Justin Clark, a senior political adviser and senior counsel to Trump's reelection campaign, made the remarks on November 21 as part of a wide-ranging discussion about strategies in the 2020 campaign, including more aggressive use of Election Day monitoring of polling places.

"Traditionally it's always been Republicans suppressing votes in places," Clark said at the event.

"Let's start protecting our voters. We know where they are. ... Let's start playing offense a little bit. That's what you're going to see in 2020. It's going to be a much bigger program, a much more aggressive program, a much better-funded program."
"Neither I nor anyone I know or work with would condone anyone's vote being threatened or diluted and our efforts will be focused on preventing just that."
"Every time we're in with him, he asks what are we doing about voter fraud? What are we doing about voter fraud?' The point is he's committed to this, he believes in it and he will do whatever it takes to make sure it's successful."
Clark said Trump's campaign plans to focus on rural areas around mid-size cities like Eau Claire and Green Bay, areas he says where Democrats "cheat."