Hillary Clinton campaigns in Orlando, discusses police and community relations

ORLANDO, Fla. — she spoke about tense relationships between police and communities in response to the Charlotte shooting in which a black man was killed by an officer.

The shooting sparked protests across the country.

Clinton offered condolences to the families of the Charlotte man and a man who was killed by officers in Tulsa recently.

She acknowledged that there are still a lot of unanswered questions about the Charlotte shooting and said the next president needs to address the tensions that have developed between black communities and police.

“We’ve got to do better and I know we can. And if I’m elected president, we will do it together, which is the only way it can be done,” she said. “We are safer when communities respect the police and police respect the communities.”

Black supporters said they wanted to her to address the issue head on.

“That’s the best thing for her to do right now because it makes people aware that we have a problem right now in America, and that problem is police brutality,” said Clinton supporters Gavin Lawton.

The message could energize black voters, who Clinton needs to win Florida.

“I just think that Hillary should really speak on that and encourage young voters to go out and vote now more than ever,” Lawton said.

Clinton spoke to a few hundred supporters at the Frontline Outreach Youth and Family Center on C.R. Smith Street at about 2 p.m.

After briefly discussing the Charlotte shooting, Clinton changed gears and talked about her economic policy.

The economy and minimum wage have been in her main message for months, as Clinton says she wants to increase pay and create well-paying jobs for everyone.

Recent polls show Clinton and Donald Trump are in a dead heat in Florida, but that Clinton is struggling with white voters, indicating she needs to build a coalition of minority voters to win the state.

Clermont voter Dave Pacailler said he's not so much a Clinton supporter as he is opposed to Trump.

“She's definitely more prepared than her opponent. As we all know, she was first lady, secretary of state, she knows how the White House runs, (and) so on. Day one, she'll know what to do as opposed to her opponent,” said Pacailler.

Polls show Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton with a wide advantage among black voters. African-Americans could prove crucial in several battlegrounds states, including Ohio.

The Associate Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group