US election race tightens in final days of campaign

With just a week to go to US Presidential Election Day on November 8, a race, that just days ago seemed all over, is now wide open.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign rally at Kent State University, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, in Kent, Ohio. Source: AAP

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's camp continues to take hits in the final days of the US Presidential election campaign, with the FBI unlikely to complete the latest review of the controversial emails. 

But in the swing state of Ohio, Ms Clinton condemned the FBI and questioned its actions.

“I'm sure a lot of you may be asking why the world the FBI would decide to jump into an election with no evidence of any wrongdoing with just days to go.

“That's a good question! There is no case to answer!”

The FBI is now sorting through data from the laptop of Clinton aide Huma Abedin, which was also used by Ms Abedin’s estranged husband, former congressman Anthony Weiner, who is being investigated for sending illicit messages to an underage girl.

The FBI says it doesn’t know if there's anything incriminating in the emails and its probe won't be completed until after the election. 

The scandal has rejuvenated Trump's campaign as he visits the traditionally blue state of Michigan.

“I think we hit the mother lode,” he told supporters.

“Thank you Huma, good job Huma.”

Mr Trump is closing in on Hillary Clinton. After trailing for months, polls are showing the billionaire is within one point of his Democratic rival.

Just days after accusing the FBI of helping rig the election for the Democrats by dropping its probe into the email scandal, Mr Trump is now praising its embattled director James Comey.

"It took a lot of guts and he brought back his reputation."

Mr Comey is facing a barrage of criticism, with around one hundred former Senior Justice officials in Washington calling for him to resign for intervening in the political process.

The White House, meanwhile, is trying its best to steer clear of the scandal with spokesperson Jay Carney avoiding further escalating the situation.

“I'm neither defending [nor] criticising what Comey has decided,” Mr Carney said.

There was more bad news for Ms Clinton, with CNN announcing it has severed ties with a former Democratic contributor, and interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile.

Emails hacked by WikiLeaks show Ms Brazile had shared questions with members of Hillary Clinton's campaign in advance of a CNN-sponsored primary debate against Bernie Sanders.

But it plays into Trump's rhetoric – he accused Fox News of leaking the questions to Ms Clinton before the final presidential debate.

-With agencies