Clinton stokes fears about Trump in appeal to black voters

Washington, Nov 4: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has sought to mobilise African-American voters in North Carolina state by stressing the potential dangers of a victory by Republican rival Donald Trump.

"He has spent this entire campaign offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters. He re-tweets white supremacists and spreads racially tinged conspiracy theories," she said on Thursday in a speech at Pitt Community College in Winterville, where a third of residents are black.

The former Secretary of State pointed out that Trump was lavishly praised by a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) -- white supremacist organisation -- newspaper, though the Republican's campaign repudiated what many saw as an endorsement from the KKK, Efe news reported.

Participation in early voting among African Americans in North Carolina is down significantly from the level of 2008, when high black turnout helped Barack Obama carry the Tar Heel state on the way to becoming the first US President of African descent.

Clinton reminded the audience of repeated accusations that Trump discriminated against minorities in his real estate enterprises

"What would your life be like if he were in the White House?" she asked rhetorically. "And the truth is we really don't have to guess. We just have to look at everything he has said and done in his career and this campaign, it's a good preview of what would likely happen."

"If you add up all of the people and all the groups of people he has insulted and demeaned, it makes way more than half of America," Clinton said.

Trump and Clinton are currently tied in North Carolina, each with support from 46.4 per cent of likely voters, according to the average of polls tracked by the Web site RealClearPolitics.

North Carolina, with 15 electoral votes, is seen as vital to Trump's hopes of winning the White House.

Both candidates campaigned in the state on Thursday.