The race is so close that even Trump's campaign admits he could lose

In public, former president Donald Trump has repeatedly and viciously insisted that he will only lose tomorrow's election if Democrats somehow steal the election from him. But his campaign staff tacitly admit that the Republican presidential candidate could lose without any jokes.

Received in an internal email from AxiosTrump's co-campaign manager Susie Wiles presented plans to dismantle the campaign apparatus after the election. In the event of a Trump victory, some staffers would move to Trump's transition and inauguration teams, Wiles wrote. But these plans are couched in many conditional terms: “God willing,” “in the event that President Trump and…” Senator (JD) Vance are elected,” “we should be victorious.”

This kind of hedging would be standard for any other campaign on the eve of an election defeat — but it's atypical of Trump, who generally exudes confidence that borders on megalomania. Over the weekend, the former president hyped a Breitbart interview with the right-wing pollster Mark Mitchellwhich predicted a landslide victory for Trump, contrary to virtually every other reputable poll showing the race to be one of the closest in the history of US politics.

Trump and his allies have also laid the groundwork for a second “Stop the Steal” movement, suggesting without evidence that election fraud and mismanagement are widespread across the country. “Do your part to help us win by a margin greater than the fraud margin,” says a voting website sponsored by the Republican National Committee.

Wiles' email seemed to acknowledge that there is indeed a universe in which voters choose Trump's opponents, Kamala Harris— and, perhaps more strikingly, a universe in which Trump associates accept it and go home. (“Regardless of the outcome of the election,” she wrote, “November 30th will be your last day on the payroll.”) During a Saturday interview with ABC News, Trump appeared to have considered that possibility, according to a chief correspondent in Washington Jonathan Karl asked him if he thought there was any way he could lose. “I guess you might lose, you might lose. “I mean, that’s what happens, right?” Trump said. Despite direct calls to do so, Trump has not publicly committed to a peaceful transition.