Anecdotal evidence is hardly flimsy. We’ve got turnout reports, long lines in R areas, blue collar Ds coming out to vote, etc.
All the indicators point to a Trump win. Then there is the backtracking by all the usual suspects.
One makes things up only if they’re not true.
Anecdotal evidence is certainly flimsy. No one in their right mind would base important decisions on it. These same anecdotes had Romney winning in 2012 too.
What is the part you said about the WashPost suggesting Trump had PA? You have a link?