US 2016 Presidential Elections: Clinton Accuses Trump of Threatening US Democracy

Local Editor

As the US Presidential elections reaches its climax of tension, Hillary Clinton excoriated rival Donald Trump as a threat to American democracy Friday for not pledging to honor results of the upcoming presidential election.

The 2016 election cycle pitting the Republican nominee against the former secretary of state has turned increasingly toxic, with Trump fueling wild conspiracy theories about vote "rigging" and Clinton warning that the provocative billionaire was straying into authoritarianism.

"We know the difference between leadership and dictatorship, and the peaceful transition of power is one of the things that sets us apart," Clinton told a rally in Cleveland, Ohio, one of the key swing states up for grabs on November 8.

She further stated: "Donald Trump refused to say that he'd respect the results of this election. By doing that, he's threatening our democracy."

Her comments marked a stern rebuke to Trump's bombshell suggestion during their third and final presidential debate that he may not recognize the election result -- a surprising rejection of political norms.

Trump, 70, then told a rally crowd that he could launch a legal challenge if Clinton prevails.

His remarks follow weeks of Trump warning about the likelihood of a "rigged" election including massive voter fraud, despite members of his own party disavowing the comments and Trump earning condemnation from President Barack Obama.

Despite isolated allegations of voter fraud, controversy over the tight 2000 vote and rampant gerrymandering, US elections have been regarded as free and fair.

Invigorated by both her commanding poll numbers and Trump's eyebrow-raising declarations, the candidate vying to become America's first female president was in Ohio aiming to block Trump's efforts to claim the blue-collar heartland state.

Trump, well aware that no Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio, campaigned in the Buckeye State Thursday. He is due to head back to the state on Saturday, with running mate Mike Pence.

On Friday, the Manhattan real estate mogul hosted rallies in the battlegrounds of North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

"Eighteen days. You're going to look back at this election and say this is by far the most important vote you've ever cast for anyone at any time," Trump told a crowd in Fletcher, North Carolina.

In parallel, he said of Cinton's campaign: "We're fighting this juggernaut... because they have billions of dollars they've raised,", which reportedly has outspent Trump on television advertising in recent months.

Trump said he would give the campaign everything he had, "right up until the actual vote."

"Win, lose or draw... I will be happy with myself," he added.

Clinton is narrowly leading in polling in North Carolina, a state Obama won in 2008 but lost to Republican Mitt Romney in 2012.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team