The race is so close that even Trump’s campaign staff acknowledges that he may lose

Publicly former president Donald Trump has repeatedly and damagingly insisted that he will only lose tomorrow’s election if the Democrats somehow steal it from him. Inside his campaign, staff are quietly acknowledging that the GOP presidential nominee can lose without any foul play.

IN an internal email obtained by AxiosTrump co-campaign manager Susie Wiles made plans for dismantling the campaign apparatus after the election. In the event of a Trump victory, some staff will move to Trump’s transition and inauguration team, Wiles wrote. But those plans are couched in plenty of conditional language: “God willing,” “in the event that President Trump and Senator (JD) Vance be chosen,” “shall we prevail.”

That kind of cover-up would be standard for any other campaign on the eve of a throw-off election — but it’s uncharacteristic of Trump, who generally projects confidence bordering on megalomania. At the weekend, the former president has hyped a Breitbart interview with the right-wing pollster Mark Mitchellthat predicted a landslide victory for Trump, contrary to virtually every other reputable poll showing the race one of the closest in the history of American politics.

Trump and his allies have also laid the groundwork for another “Stop the Steal” movement that suggests without evidence that election fraud and mismanagement is endemic across the country. “Do your part to make sure we win by more than the margin of error,” reads one poll website sponsored by the Republican National Committee.

Wiles’ email appeared to acknowledge that there is indeed a universe where voters choose Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris– and perhaps more strikingly, a universe where Trump staffers accept it and go home. (“Regardless of the outcome of the election,” she wrote, “Nov. 30 will be your last day on the payroll.”) During a Saturday interview with ABC News, Trump appeared to entertain that possibility, according to the chief Washington correspondent. Jonathan Karl asked him if he thought there was any way he could lose. “I think you can lose, can lose. I mean, it happens, right?” Trump said.Despite direct requests to do so, Trump has not publicly committed to a peaceful transition.