Hillary Clinton knocks 'outlandish Trumpian ideas' in policy speech

Her political fortunes flourishing, Hillary Clinton attempted to undercut Donald Trump's claim to working-class voters on Thursday, portraying her Republican rival as untrustworthy on economic issues and pushing policies that would only benefit the super-wealthy himself included.

The Democratic presidential nominee sought to seize momentum as Republicans, including Trump, struck an almost defeatist note about their Election Day chances. As Republican leaders sounded alarms about Trump's unconventional approach, Clinton attacked what she dubbed "outlandish Trumpian ideas" that have been rejected by both parties.

"Based on what we know from the Trump campaign, he wants America to work for him and his friends, at the expense of everyone else," she said after touring a Michigan manufacturing facility.

Appearing in a county known for so-called Reagan Democrats (working-class Democrats who voted Republican in the 1980s), Clinton tried to win back some of the blue-collar voters who have formed the base of her rival's support, making the case that she offers a steadier roadmap for economic growth and prosperity.

"I can provide serious, steady leadership that can find common ground and build on it based on hard but respectful bargaining," she said. "I just don't think insults and bullying is how we're going to get things done."

She reiterated her strong opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, leaving herself little room for backtracking should she win the White House.

"I oppose it now, I'll oppose it after the election, and I'll oppose it as President," she said, while also noting that the US should not cut itself off from the rest of the world.

Clinton once called the TPP the "gold standard" of trade deals when she served as Obama's secretary of state, but she announced her opposition to the deal last year, saying it did not meet her standard for creating jobs, raising wages and protecting national security.

Clinton is also planning to release her 2015 tax returns in the coming days. Trump has said he won't release his until an IRS audit is complete, breaking tradition with every presidential candidate in recent history.

Clinton's appearance followed Trump's own speech on the economy, which he delivered in Michigan on Monday.

Just hours before her address, Trump unleashed another round of attacks on Democrats, calling Obama the "founder" of the Islamic State militant group and Clinton its co-founder.

The Republican presidential nominee brushed off conservative radio commentator Hugh Hewitt's attempt to reframe Trump's observation as one that said Obama's foreign policy created the conditions in Iraq and Syria that allowed IS to thrive.

"No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS. I do," Trump said, using another acronym for the extremist group.

Dozens of frustrated Republicans gathered signatures on Thursday for a letter to Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus, that urges the party chief to stop helping Trump and instead focus GOP resources on protecting vulnerable Senate and House candidates.