Pennsylvania’s governor appears on national television to respond to status as battleground state

PITTSBURGH — Gov. Tom Wolf defended the integrity of voting in Pennsylvania after he was called out by President Donald Trump during a rally in Allentown.

“We’re watching you, governor, very closely in Philadelphia. We’re watching you. A lot of bad things … a lot of bad things happen there with the counting of the votes. We’re watching you, Gov. Wolf, very closely,” Trump said.

During an appearance on the 3rd Hour of TODAY, Wolf responded as people closely watch how things in Pennsylvania, a battleground state, unfold.

“All of us in Pennsylvania … every county, Department of State ... all of us have been working to make sure this election is fair and open and calm and safe for everybody, that every vote counts,” Wolf said.

Asked how long he thinks it will take to count the mail-in ballots, Wolf said it depends on the county and pointed to the June primary, which he referred to as a “dry run.”

“Some places, like Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, they were able to report late that night. Some other counties were a little later, but I think we learned a lot from June. And a lot of these counties, not all of them, have invested heavily in new equipment, more people, and so they’re going to be ready to do the counting and make sure every vote counts,” Wolf said.

Wolf was also asked about the death of Walter Wallace Jr., who was armed with a knife when he was shot by police in Philadelphia.

Wolf activated the Pennsylvania National Guard early Tuesday evening ahead of a second night of riots.

“All of our hearts go out to the Wallace family. I mean, that was terrible and it’s part of the cycle of injustice that is so much a part of our lives these days, and that has to end. We’ve got to stop that,” Wolf said.

Watch the full interview in the tweet below:

30 officers hurt amid protests after Philadelphia police kill man (CNN)

Cox Media Group