Accepting the nomination of the Conservative Party of New York on Wednesday evening, Donald Trump vowed to make his home state a November battleground in this year's election, as he again forecast a major upset in a state that has not gone to the Republicans since Ronald Reagan won the Empire State in 1980 and 1984.

"We are going to play New York," Trump said to cheers. "We are not just doing this for fun," he told the Conservative Party gathering.

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

Back in April when he won a resounding victory in the GOP primary, Trump and his supporters vowed to alter the usual electoral map, and use the issues of jobs and trade to turn the tables on Democrats in New York and other rust belt states like Pennsylvania, which have endured massive job losses in manufacturing.

"There's no hope - other than if I become President," Trump said, "Because we're going to bring our jobs back to New York."

But so far, the polls have not indicated that New York is close:

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

Trump will be in Ohio on Thursday and Florida on Friday, two swing states where is much closer than in New York.

Clinton will campaign in North Carolina on Thursday.