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Trump opponents try to beat him at the Electoral College

Melinda Smyser, one of Idaho's four presidential electors, poses for a portrait in Boise, Idaho, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Grassroots campaigns around the country are trying to persuade members of the Electoral College to vote against Donald Trump and deny him the 270 votes he needs to assume the presidency. Smyser, one of Idaho’s four Republican electors, said they have been flooded with emails, telephone calls and Facebook messages from strangers urging them to reconsider their vote. “It’s just not going to work,” Bangerter (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)
Melinda Smyser, one of Idaho's four presidential electors, poses for a portrait in Boise, Idaho, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Grassroots campaigns around the country are trying to persuade members of the Electoral College to vote against Donald Trump and deny him the 270 votes he needs to assume the presidency. Smyser, one of Idaho’s four Republican electors, said they have been flooded with emails, telephone calls and Facebook messages from strangers urging them to reconsider their vote. “It’s just not going to work,” Bangerter (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger) Melinda Smyser, one of Idaho's four presidential electors, poses for a portrait in Boise, Idaho, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Grassroots campaigns around the country are trying to persuade members of the Electoral College to vote against Donald Trump and deny him the 270 votes he needs to assume the presidency. Smyser, one of Idaho’s four Republican electors, said they have been flooded with emails, telephone calls and Facebook messages from strangers urging them to reconsider their vote. “It’s just not going to work,” Bangerter (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger)

By Associated Press 1 min read

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Grassroots campaigns have sprung up around the country to try to persuade members of the Electoral College to deny President-elect Donald Trump the 270 votes needed to assume the presidency.

It’s a longshot effort. The Electoral College has never before denied the presidency to the clear Election Day winner.

Yet activists are circulating online petitions and using social media in hopes of influencing Republican electors to cast their ballots for someone other than Trump.

Trump has won 290 electoral votes to 232 for Democrat Hillary Clinton, with Michigan undecided. But Clinton is on pace to win the popular vote by at least 1 million ballots.

Trump’s opponents are motivated by the outcome of the popular vote and by their contention that the businessman and reality TV star is unfit to serve as commander in chief.