Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Credit:AP The denials came after several women came forward to several media outlets claiming Mr Trump had groped or sought to kiss them without consent. The women were prompted to come forward after Mr Trump claimed that his earlier statements that he could get away with this sort of behaviour due to his fame and power was just "locker room talk." During the speech Mr Trump claimed a variety of forces including the Clintons and the media were seeking to rig the US election. "Their agenda is to elect crooked Hillary Clinton at any cost, at any price, no matter how many lives they destroy. For them, it's a war. And for them, nothing at all is out of bounds," he said. "This is a struggle for the survival of our nation. Believe me. And this will be our last chance to save it on November 8. Remember that."

Donald Trump speaks in Ocala, Florida. Credit:AP The Trump strategy Though his campaign has often appeared to be more reality TV show than political operation, Mr Trump's overall strategy for victory was fairly standard until it was derailed by revelations of his sexually predatory behaviour. Many Republicans believe that Bill Clinton never properly answered for his personal behaviour in office. Credit:AP The original plan had been to expand his base.

Now he seeks to throw enough mud to shrink Hillary Clinton's. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Florida. Credit:AP Given the general unpopularity of Mrs Clinton (which today stands at 52.5 percent), Mr Trump's plan to reach the magic number of 270 electoral college votes had been to win all the states that Mitt Romney had won, bringing him to around 202 votes, and then make inroads into those that Obama had won. He would take Florida, which has been a swing state for years and has 29 votes, and then harness his popularity among working class whites in Democratic states that have seen a manufacturing downturn in the north and northeast. Hillary Clinton: placed at the centre of many of Donald Trump's conspiracy theories. Credit:AP

His campaign believed the candidate's appeal to working class whites was powerful enough to enable to him to do something no Republican had done since 1988 -- win states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, with their combined 36 votes in the electoral college. This is why he rails against free trade agreements. He would also rely heavily on rural states like Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio, with more white voters than average. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally in Las Vegas. Credit:AP According to Terry Nelson, who was the strategist in the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign, until a few weeks ago this seemed a reasonable course, especially due to Mrs Clinton's weakness. But since the release of the ugly recording of Mr Trump, polls have swung against him in some of those crucial states, and in key demographics.

His campaign has arrived at another strategy. Mr Trump is now seeking to depress Democratic turnout by attacking Bill Clinton for his past indiscretions, and linking that behaviour to Hillary Clinton. Can it work? According to Mr Nelson many Republicans believe that Bill Clinton never properly answered for his personal behaviour in office, so the line of attack might serve to maintain enthusiasm among the base. But he does not see how it expands it enough to expect to win. "He was going to get more votes than Bill Clinton in any event," says Mr Nelson dryly.

In the past 24 hours he has expanded his attacks, accusing "the Clinton machine" of being involved in a massive criminal conspiracy somehow involving the Justice Department, the FBI, Republicans in Congress, the NSA and media. "She should be locked up," he said again at a rally on Thursday in Florida. The world according to Donald Trump. Claims From the West Palm Beach speech On the election: "This is not simply another four-year election. This is a crossroads in the history of our civilisation that will determine whether or not we the people reclaim control over our government." "The establishment and their media enablers will have control over this nation through means that are very well known. Anyone who challenges their control is deemed a sexist, a racist, a xenophobe, and morally deformed."

Their financial resources are virtually unlimited, their political resources are unlimited, their media resources are unmatched, and most importantly, the depths of their immorality is absolutely unlimited. The corrupt political establishment is a machine, it has no soul. I knew these false attacks would come. I knew this day would arrive, it's only a question of when. And I knew the American people would rise above it and vote for the future they deserve. On the members of the conspiracy: "They will lie, lie, lie, and then again they will do worse than that, they will do whatever is necessary. The Clintons are criminals, remember that. They're criminals." On one of the women who has levelled allegations: "Take a look, you take a look. Look at her, look at her words. You tell me, what you think. I don't think so — I don't think so." On his own motivations: I didn't need to do this, folks, believe me — believe me. I built a great company, and I had a wonderful life. I could have enjoyed the fruits and benefits of years of successful business deals and businesses for myself and my family. Instead of going through this absolute horror show of lies, deceptions, malicious attacks — who would have thought? I'm doing it because this country has given me so much, and I feel so strongly that it's my turn to give back to the country that I love."