'Campaign knows he's lying': Analyst claims Trump grasping as must-win state looks 'dicey'

Former President Donald Trump's complaints about a key swing state represent purposeful lies meant to offset the possible loss of his campaign, a political analyst argued Friday.

Salon columnist Heather Digby Parton made the case that Trump's warnings of voter fraud in Pennsylvania represent the first step to claim a state his campaign fears he'll lose.

"He's claiming that they've 'found votes,' which is blubbering nonsense," wrote Parton. "His campaign knows he's lying."

A recent Puck News report found Team Trump's mood has been down in the dumps as scandals — such as Trump's suggestion that former Rep. Liz Cheney should face guns, his avowal to "protect" women whether they like it or not, and his campaign event comedian calling Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage" — threaten his chances of winning.

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"Since Michigan is looking less and less doable, Pennsylvania is the must-win state," wrote Parton. "And suddenly things have started to look very dicey there 'where women have outpaced men by 13 points in the early vote which has sent the campaign into a tailspin during the past two days.'"

Parton argued this is why Trump has been claiming he cannot be defeated without voter fraud, saying this week, "The only thing that can stop us is the cheating."

The columnist argued it's also why Trump's campaign has been leaking what she called "phony" polling data to friendly news sites.

"It's done to reinforce the new Republican doctrine that Donald Trump cannot lose unless the other side cheats because he is so obviously superior to his opposition," Parton wrote.

"They're still trying to win legitimately. But they go to sleep at night secure in the knowledge that even if they lose they can just claim they really won but the other side stole it."