Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (I-Vt.) said Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE is running a campaign built on bigotry as he stumped with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE in the key swing state of North Carolina.

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"We have struggled for so many years to overcome discrimination, and he is running his campaign on the cornerstone of bigotry," Sanders said at a rally alongside Clinton Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.

"Now as Americans, we can disagree on many issues, but we have come too far. Too many people have gone to jail, and too many have died in the struggle for equal rights. We are not going back to a bigoted society."

Sanders, Clinton's former Democratic primary rival, also mused about the prospect of the U.S. electing its first female president.

"Let us not forget that as I stand next to our next president, 100 years ago, not a long time ago from a historical perspective, women were not running for president. They did not have the right to vote," Sanders said.

"We have come a long way."

Sanders joined Clinton and musician and producer Pharrell Williams in North Carolina as the Democratic nominee hopes to clinch the battleground state in the final days of the campaign. Clinton and Trump are in a dead heat, according to a polling average from RealClearPolitics.