Trump, Clinton racing for election finish line

  • 08/11/2016
Leonardo DiCaprio spoke out against Donald Trump at the Hollywood Film Awards (Reuters)
Leonardo DiCaprio spoke out against Donald Trump at the Hollywood Film Awards (Reuters)

The ugliest US Presidential campaign is almost over, with rivals Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton rushing through several states toward the election day finish line.

Speaking in North Carolina, Mr Trump has told voters they must vote, saying if he does not win the election, he will consider his campaign "the single greatest waste of time, energy … and money." 

"If we don't win... it won't mean a damn thing," he said.

"Ohio looks to be going the way of Donald Trump, and Florida, but what he would need is essentially a boil-over in places like Pennsylvania," political correspondent Patrick Gower told Paul Henry.

Democrat Hillary Clinton is headed into the final day with new momentum after the FBI said no criminal charges were forthcoming in an investigation of her email practices.

Gower says Trump supporters he's talked to simply don't believe the announcement. "They refuse to believe the fact the FBI could have cleared Hillary Clinton so quickly."

He says Ms Clinton has not commented on the announcement because she doesn't want to go near any talk of emails.

In the last 24 hours Mr Trump will hit five battleground states - Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Michigan.

Trump, Clinton racing for election finish line

A Trump supporter outside Trump Tower in New York (Kate Rodger / Newshub.)

Ms Clinton will make two stops in Pennsylvania and visit Michigan before wrapping up with a midnight rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. She will appear at an evening rally at Philadelphia's Independence Hall with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

A number of music stars and Hollywood legends have come out in support of Ms Clinton. Young pop stars Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry and hip-hop heavyweights Beyonce and Jay Z have performed at Clinton campaign events, while classic rockers Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are set to play at her Philadelphia appearance.

At the Hollywood Film Awards on Sunday night (local time), actor Robert De Niro lambasted Mr Trump, saying: "I don't see a lot of difference between Kubrick's totally insane General Jack D. Ripper and our totally insane Donald J. Trump."

Earlier in the year the Raging Bull star appeared in an ad campaign, calling Mr Trump "blatantly stupid", "a pig" and a "national disaster".

Also at the Hollywood Film Awards, Leonardo DiCaprio told the crowd: "Let's all use our power as citizens to do the right thing."

"Please vote this Tuesday November 8 and vote for people who believe in the science of climate change."

FBI Director James Comey told Congress on Sunday that investigators had completed a review of newly discovered emails and found no reason to change their July finding that Ms Clinton was not guilty of criminal wrongdoing in her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

It was uncertain whether the announcement came in time to change voters' minds or undo any damage from days of Republican attacks on Ms Clinton as corrupt. Tens of millions of Americans had cast early votes in the 10 days since Comey first told Congress of the newly discovered emails.

Trump, Clinton racing for election finish line

A Trump opponent outside Trump Tower in New York (Kate Rodger / Newshub.)

Mr Trump, who has not said whether he will respect the results of Tuesday's election, questioned the thoroughness of the FBI review and said the issue would not go away.

Reuters / Newshub.