Trump loses poll case in new blow

WASHINGTON－A Pennsylvania judge on Saturday threw out US President Donald Trump's claims of widespread electoral fraud there, dealing a new blow to the Republican's bid to overturn his loss in the US presidential election.

The decision paves the way for Pennsylvania to certify Democrat Joe Biden's victory there, which is scheduled on Monday.

With the clock ticking down to Biden's January 20 inauguration, Trump's team has focused on trying to stop battleground states from certifying election results, in addition to his numerous legal challenges that have so far failed.

Judge Matthew Brann wrote in his ruling that Trump's team had presented "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations" in their complaints about mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania.

"In the United States of America, this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state," Brann wrote.

Biden won the state-by-state Electoral College votes that ultimately decide who takes the White House by 306 to 232.

The Electoral College is due to formally vote on Dec 14, with certifications to take place beforehand.

'Results are clear'

The judgment in Pennsylvania came hours after Republicans also requested a delay in certification in Michigan, another battleground, in a letter that repeated allegations of irregularities in the state which Biden won by 155,000 votes.

They asked for a delay of two weeks to allow for a full audit of results in Wayne County, the state's largest and where majority-black Detroit is located, which was won overwhelmingly by Biden.

Michigan's board of canvassers, which includes two Democrats and two Republicans, is also due to meet on Monday to certify the results.

On Sunday, Michigan's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson posted on Twitter that there had been "no evidence" to draw into question the result of the election.

"The results of their votes are clear. No evidence has emerged to undermine that."

Meanwhile, Trump's campaign requested a recount of votes in the Georgia presidential race on Saturday, a day after state officials certified results showing Biden won the state.

Agencies Via Xinhua