Hillary Clinton gave voice on Wednesday to a question on the minds of many of her fiercest advocates in her race against the controversy-prone Donald Trump: Why isn't she way, way ahead?

The Democratic nominee raised the issue during an address via video conference to a gathering in Las Vegas of the Labour International Union of North America.

The former secretary of state ticked off her pro-union positions, including investing in infrastructure, raising the minimum wage and supporting collective bargaining.

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“Having said all this, 'Why aren't I 50 points ahead?' you might ask?” Ms Clinton said. “Well, the choice for working families has never been clearer. I need your help to get Donald Trump's record out to everybody. Nobody should be fooled.”

Mr Trump has sought to appeal to working-class voters through promises of job creation and re-negotiation of trade deals, among other things.

But Ms Clinton noted some of Mr Trump's anti-union positions and accused the real estate magnate of building his wealth by “stiffing small businesses and contractors.”

“If you do know somebody who might be voting for Trump, stage an intervention,” Ms Clinton pleaded with her remote audience. “Try to talk some sense into them. Lay out the facts. The facts are on our side, about what I've done versus what he's done. Remember, friends don't let friends vote for Trump.”