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Clinton: We know 'the difference between leadership and dictatorship'
| CNN | - |
Cleveland
(CNN) Hillary Clinton launched what is expected to be a whirlwind,
final stretch of her 2016 campaign on Friday by taking a victory lap in
the battleground state of Ohio.
See Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton share stage 24 hours after trading jibes in bitter final debate
Clinton: We know 'the difference between leadership and dictatorship'
Story highlights
- Trump has baffled even fellow Republicans with his continued insistence that the election is "rigged"
- Clinton's campaign event in Cleveland marks the beginning of a ramped up campaign schedule
Cleveland (CNN)Hillary
Clinton launched what is expected to be a whirlwind, final stretch of
her 2016 campaign on Friday by taking a victory lap in the battleground
state of Ohio.
Two days after
she faced off on the debate stage against Donald Trump for the last
time, Clinton reminded voters of her opponent's outlandish comments
about the results of the election that have drawn widespread scorn.
"On
Wednesday night, Donald Trump did something no other presidential
nominee has ever done. He refused to say he would respect the results of
this election," Clinton said at a campaign rally in Cleveland. "Now,
make no mistake, by doing that he is threatening our democracy."
For dramatic emphasis, Clinton added: "We know in our country, the difference between leadership and dictatorship."
Trump
has baffled even fellow Republicans with his continued insistence that
the election is "rigged" -- rhetoric that calls into question a
cornerstone of American democracy. But rather than rescind those remarks
on the debate stage in Las Vegas Wednesday night, Trump only doubled
down.
"I will look at it at the time," Trump said when asked whether he will concede if he loses on November 8. "I will keep you in suspense."
The
Republican nominee continued that rhetoric on Friday, saying at a rally
in Johnstown, Pennsylvania: "Wait until you see the results on November
8. People are going to say, 'Wow, that's really surprising.' Because
the whole deal is rigged."
Clinton
enters the final 18 days of the presidential election with her path to
victory widening. The Democratic nominee is leading in national polls
and key battleground states, and her campaign is now focused on turning
traditionally red states like Arizona blue in November.
Her
campaign event in Cleveland on Friday marks the beginning of a ramped
up campaign schedule. Clinton will be on the trail through the weekend,
campaigning in Pennsylvania with her running mate, Tim Kaine, on
Saturday, before heading to North Carolina on Sunday and New Hampshire
on Monday.
Clinton's top aides are
particularly eying an opening in Ohio. The state has been one of
Trump's bright spots, but Clinton on Friday expressed confidence that
she could take the key battleground state out of her opponent's column.
To do that, Clinton explicitly reached out to voters "reconsidering their support for my opponent."
"I
know you may still have questions for me. I respect that, I want to
answer them, I want to earn your vote, I am reaching out to all
Americans, Democrats, Republicans and independents," Clinton said. "I
hope that as we move through these next 18 days, everyone thinks
seriously about what you really want to see, not just in your next
president, but in your lives, in your jobs, in you education, in our
future together."
And in a clear
reference to Trump's repeated jab that she lacks the physical energy to
be president, Clinton joked that the three debates of the general
election had proven otherwise.
"Well,
that was the third and last time that I will ever have to debate Donald
Trump," Clinton said. "I have now spent for and a half hours on stage
with Donald, proving once again I have the stamina to be president."
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