Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo / AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo / AP
A Donald Trump defeat could spark a potential backlash from voters who remain angry their voices have not been heard.
That is the view of some experts and commentators who fear angry Trump supporters could cause chaos if things don't go their way come November 8.
While acknowledging it is only a minority of voters, they insist the potential for post-election violence remains a real possibility.
The Republican nominee has already instilled a sense of injustice within his supporters by insisting that, should he lose, the election was rigged.
In recent weeks, Trump has raised questions about the integrity of the nation's voting systems and called for his supporters to monitor polling places in "certain areas" to guard against voter fraud.
He's made the comments during campaign stops in battleground states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, singling out Philadelphia as a city to watch.
'PITCHFORK AND TORCHES'
Some extreme Trump supporters have also raised eyebrows and concerns in the lead up to November 8.
Milwaukee sheriff David Clarke told a rally of supporters in Wisconsin on Monday that should Trump lose: "I'll continue to say it. It is pitchfork and torches time in America."
The call was widely condemned on Twitter with some regarding it as a call to violence.
POTENTIAL BACKLASH
Photo / AP
Trump has resorted to violent language when talking about people who oppose or challenge him during this campaign.
In August, Trump suggested that gun rights activists might be able to act out somehow if Clinton wins the presidency and appoints Supreme Court justices who favour stricter gun control measures.
Referring to the constitutional clause that gives Americans the right to bear arms, Trump said: "If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people - maybe there is, I don't know."
Brawls have also broken out at his rallies with Trump supporters clashing with protesters.
AMERICANS 'DESERVE CREDIT'
Photo / AP
Aaron Connelly, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy said he believed talk of a violent backlash against a Clinton victory was speculative.
He said while Trump is a unique candidate in his lack of respect for the norms of democracy, and appears to be an exceptionally poor loser, there wasn't a big history of electoral violence in the US.
"It seems unlikely to me that the passions of the campaign will continue through November," he said.
"Most Americans are tired of the campaign and will be happy to move on with their lives come 9 November."
Mr Connelly also pointed out that Clinton instinctively seeks to unify rather than divide and her voice will be the dominant one which emerges post election.
He said he believed there would be an emerging sense of real celebration that the US has elected its first female president and that she deserved support until she demonstrated otherwise.
"So while I am deeply concerned about the way in which Trump has chipped away at important democratic norms over the course of the election, I would give Americans more credit," he said.
Dr John Hart, a research fellow at the ANU School of History and a specialist in American politics and elections, said Trump had tapped into an anger among a small majority of people but it was unclear how that would manifest itself post election.
Dr Hart agreed there was not a strong history of violence post US elections and this behaviour did not represent the majority of voters.
However he said Trump's claims of election rigging were the thing that was really disturbing as it was designed to intimidate voters in the lead up to election day.
"The size of voters' anger depends on the size of Trump's defeat," he said.
"Trump has fired up a social movement and that's what's behind him."
'PLAYING WITH FIRE'
Matt Dallek, associate professor of political management at George Washington University told AFP Trump is playing with fire and has been doing so for many months.
"And I think it is coming to a crescendo," Assoc Prof Dallek said.
He said violence wasn't a forgone conclusion, but in a country with more guns than people all it took was an armed, angry lone wolf Trump supporter for tragedy to occur.
Trump's blustery, law and order campaign has appealed heavily to frustrated middle class and less educated whites and criticised immigrants, Muslims and other minorities.
Trump has also targeted people who feel left out by the globalised economy and who embrace his vision of a once-great America - now reduced to mismanaged, crime-ridden mess.
At a Trump rally Monday night in Wisconsin, 18-year old first time voter and Trump supporter Joseph Wells admitted he was nervous about what lies ahead if Clinton wins.
"I don't want to call Trump supporters violent, but I mean they'll be ticked off. They're not going to be happy," Mr Wells said.
"I'll be honest, I'm kind of scared to see how the election and the aftermath is going to unfold."
VIOLENCE MITIGATED
President Barack Obama warned said Trump's claims were irresponsible and showed he lacked the thick skin needed to be president. Photo / AP
According to head of the political science department at Columbia University Timothy Frye, the prospect of violence after the election might be mitigated if Clinton wins by a large margin and if Republicans who endorsed Trump stand up and declare the voting to have been clean.
"One thing that will be very important to look for is the behaviour of other politicians," he told AFP citing Trump running mate Mike Pence, who has pledged to respect the results of the elections.
However President Barack Obama warned said Trump's claims were irresponsible and showed he lacked the thick skin needed to be president.
