Las Vegas: Slamming Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his refusal to commit that he will accept the results of the November 8 polls, top American newspapers on Thursday described his remarks as a "contempt" for
democracy.
"Trump's breathtaking repudiation of American democracy," screamed The Washington Post in its lead editorial, while The New York Times described this as a "contempt" for democracy.
"Mr Trump's meltdown in the closing weeks could be dismissed as a sore loser's bizarre attempt at rationalising his likely defeat. But his trashing of the democratic process, in service of his own ego, risks lasting damage to the country, and politicians of both parties should recoil from him and his cynical example," The New York Times editorial board said.
"The presidential debate was another exercise in narcissism, bombast and mendacity by Mr Trump. One could only hope that this might be the last grand display of his gross unfitness to be president," the major US daily said.
In his third debate, Trump said he would "look at the time" when asked if he would accept the results of the November 8 presidential elections.
The Washington Post said though Clinton made some gaffs during the debate, but "they fade to the status of trivia in the face of an opponent who will not accept the basic rules of American democracy.
"Mr Trump's biggest mistake was his refusal to say he would accept the election results if he loses," The Wall Street Journal said. "Mr Trump made it worse by saying 'I will keep you in suspense'," the daily said.
"Voters on the right and left want to have faith in the electoral system. Mr Trump's statement makes us wonder if Mr Trump and adviser Steve Bannon are planning to blame everyone else if he does lose," The Wall Street Journal said.
Trump's vice presidential running mate Mike Pence said that he is taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding to accept the results of the elections.
"He'll take a wait-and-see approach," he said.
