Trump: 'People Who Control The Political Power' Rigging Polls
MIAMI (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is blaming fake polls showing him losing to Hillary Clinton nationally.
CBS2's Dick Brennan reports that during a campaign rally in the battleground state of Florida on Monday, Trump blamed the media and the system for trying to suppress the vote.
"When the people who control the political power in our society can rig investigations, like her investigation was rigged, can rig polls -- you see these phony polls," Trump said.
He told the crowd gathered next to a pumpkin patch in Boynton Beach: "I believe we're winning.'' He then, without evidence, blamed that several "mainstream'' media polls for weighing their respondents with Democrats.
Trump said the fix is in and to pay no attention to polls that show Clinton ahead by 12 points nationally in a four-way race.
"People say, 'Trump's out,' but we're winning, we're winning," said Trump.
He also told reporters that he felt "very good'' about his chances in Florida, a state that is essential for his White House hopes.
However, Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway blamed negative ads and the fact that Clinton has the advantages of surrogates, like President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
Conway added they hope to make up some ground among a key voting block -- those who still have not made up their minds, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
"We have a shot at getting those undecided voters who somehow have said, 'I know who Hillary Clinton is, I don't trust her or like her.' We need to bring them aboard in the next couple weeks," she said.
Polling places are open for early voting in Florida.
Fifty counties opened polling places on Monday, including the state's largest counties: Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange and Palm Beach. The remaining counties will start in the coming week.
Early voting by mail has been underway for weeks. Nearly 1.2 million voters in Florida have already mailed in ballots. The state has nearly 13 million registered voters.
COMPLETE CAMPAIGN 2016 COVERAGE
Polls have shown a tight race in Florida between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. A new CBS News battleground tracker has Clinton ahead of Trump by three points in Florida, 46 percent to 43 percent.
Both candidates are sweeping through Florida this week, trying to boost turnout among their supporters.
The Clinton campaign is gaining more confidence and appeared in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and the state's Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan, who is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte.
"We are going to get rid of the gridlock," Clinton said.
Clinton let Warren unleash the strongest attack on Trump of the day, when she referenced his famous "nasty woman" debate crack.
"Get this Donald, nasty women are tough. Nov. 8, we nasty women are going to march our nasty feet to cast our nasty votes to get you out of our lives forever," Warren said.
Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook suggested the Clinton campaign won't stop at the needed 270 electoral votes.
While 270 is still the goal, he said Clinton is expanding her map because traditionally red states like Arizona are now in play.
"We're not running away with this," he said." This race is going to be competitive up until the end."
A recent ABC News poll gives Clinton a 12-point lead over Trump nationally with the support of 50 percent of likely voters.
Trump is currently polling ahead in Texas, with a slim 46 to 43 percent lead, according to the CBS News battleground tracker.
Trump also criticized the offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Mosul as a total disaster. Clinton criticized Trump for what she said is "declaring defeat before the battle has even started."
Clinton called Trump wrong and dangerous.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
