George W. Bush congratulates Biden while Christie says Trump may soon need to 'move on'
The former president is the most prominent Republican so far to congratulate Biden despite Trump's refusal to concede the election.
In a statement, Bush said he called Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who he referred to as the president-elect and vice president-elect respectively.
"I extended my warm congratulations and thanked him for the patriotic message he delivered last night," he said, adding, "Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country."
Biden was on Saturday projected to win the presidency after securing more than 270 Electoral College votes. But Trump has not yet conceded the race, continuing to falsely claim he won the election while promoting unfounded claims of voter fraud.
"It was so important early on to say to the president, 'If your basis for not conceding is that there was voter fraud, then show us,'" Christie told ABC's "This Week." "Show us. Because if you can't show us, we can't do this. We can't back you blindly without evidence."
"I'm hoping that more Republicans move in the direction of saying, not that we don't support the president, he's been a friend of mine for 20 years, but friendship doesn't mean that you're blind," Christie added. "Friendship means that you'll listen to somebody, give them their opportunity, and if they don't come forward with the proof, then it's time to move on."
Bush said that while Trump "has the right" to pursue recounts and legal challenges, he appeared to suggest the efforts would not be successful.
"The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear," Bush said.
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/chris-christie-close-trump-ally-suggests-it-may-soon-be-n1247036?cid=eml_nbn_20201108
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