Trump steps up the campaign pace

ajc.com

Credit: Jamie Dupree

Credit: Jamie Dupree

With 17 days left until Election Day, Donald Trump makes stops in three different swing states on this Saturday, reaching out to voters in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio, as he looks to slow Hillary Clinton in the final weeks of the 2016 campaign

It's the second day of three rallies for Trump, who started his Friday in North Carolina, then held two rallies in Pennsylvania, a state where Trump has not led Clinton in the polls since one in June.

"Believe me, this is Brexit times five, you watch, Trump said to cheers, referring to the upset vote in England several months ago to leave the European Community, as Trump supporters said the polls in the U.S. will be wrong as well.

While Trump was in Pennsylvania, Hillary Clinton was stumping for votes in Ohio, one swing state where Trump has held stubbornly held on to a lead in the polls.

Clinton is off the campaign trail all weekend; she used an event in Cleveland to urge Democrats to get out and vote early, as she declared victory in their final debate earlier this week.

"I have now spent four and a half hours on stage with Donald, proving once again that I have the stamina to be President and Commander in Chief," she said with a laugh as the crowd cheered.

Clinton will be back on the trail next week for two days in Florida; Trump has three days in the Sunshine State, as early voting begins there on Monday.

Clinton will be relying on star power and a host of surrogates as well - singers Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Jon Bon Jovi and Jennifer Lopez will be doing concerts for her in coming days.

President Obama will be back out on the trail as well - he stumps for Clinton in Nevada on Sunday, and in Florida next Friday.

That hasn't set well with Trump.

"Every time I look he's campaigning," Trump said in North Carolina on Friday. "Give me a break."

Trump also on Friday suggested that Clinton had been given the questions before at least one of their three debates, which allowed her to be better prepared.

"I want to know, was she given the questions to my debate?" Trump said. "But it doesn't matter, because we won," though most polls have shown Trump did not come out of this week's debate with an edge.