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Larry Sabato, who runs the Crystal Ball polling tracker, said the billionaire has a slight edge in a state he “must win”. The pollster also said many people “despise” Hillary Clinton and will now lean towards Trump.

BBC•AFP Donald Trump is slightly ahead in the crucial state of Florida

GETTY Mr Sabato said people 'despise' Clinton in the US

He told the BBC programme: “The place he must win is Florida, it has 29 electoral votes, he cannot possibly win without Florida. “But Trump is a tiny bit ahead. But Trump has spent his money on rally and tv ads and not people on the ground. “As much as some Republicans don’t like Trump, they despise Hillary Clinton and what has hurt Clinton more than anything else is the FBI’s decision to essentially reopen the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

Trump is a tiny bit ahead Larry Sabato

“It really has hurt her. It has taken a lot of leaning Republicans into Trump’s category. I doubt Clinton can win them back.” A national poll put the Republican candidate on 46 per cent, while Clinton is on 45 per cent, the first time the billionaire has been in the lead since May.

US Elections 2016 in pictures Tue, November 8, 2016 The top photos following the campaign journey of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the US Elections 2016 Play slideshow Getty 1 of 57 US Elections 2016 in pictures

Clinton’s 12-point lead during October has vanished after the FBI said last Friday it was looking at new emails sent from her private email account that could contain classified material. Mr Sabato added: “Clinton needs to stop talking about the emails and develop a line of attack that will last until Tuesday.”

GETTY Trump is said to be leading the 'enthusiasm poll'