COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said as he campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday that the election will come down to whether there is a fair and transparent vote count.

Asked by NBC News what will decide the outcome, Clinton replied: “Who wants it bad enough and whether we can get an honest, open count?”

A Clinton aide later said he was referring to various reports of threats and intimidation against election officials.

Clinton campaigned for Harris in Georgia, where his remarks to voters on Sunday while discussing immigration caused a stir.

Clinton tried to argue that Harris is more serious about finding solutions to border issues and immigration than former President Donald Trump, citing the February killing of 22-year-old Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and the man responsible for her death was held responsible, a Venezuelan citizen who entered the United States illegally in 2022.

Clinton said it “probably wouldn't have happened” if all migrants had been properly screened.

Trump, who has made immigration the basis of his re-election while raising doubts about election security after his defeat in 2020, seized on Clinton's comments against the Harris campaign, saying the man accused of killing Riley was Entered the US days before Harris called the border. secure.”

The Harris campaign said Clinton's words were taken out of context. In his lengthy remarks, Clinton said the U.S. needs “vetted” immigrants to work. He also touched on Trump's successful efforts to pass bipartisan legislation this year that would have increased border security.

Clinton is among high-profile surrogates, including former President Barack Obama, supporting Harris as the race enters its final stages. A new NBC News poll shows the competition is a dead heat.