Democrats raise $13,000 to rebuild Republican party office

Washington: What started as a suspected political act of terror in North Carolina soon helped bring party lines together on Sunday night, after a GOP building was firebombed. Democrats rallied behind Republicans raising funds for the office that was attacked.

Democrats launched a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $13,000 in 10 hours. It was created by David Weinberger, a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School.

The GoFundMe page had this message: "On October 16, a North Carolina headquarters of the Republican Party was firebombed, and an abhorrent threat was painted on its outside wall. As Democrats, we are starting this campaign to enable the Orange County, North Carolina Republican office to re-open soon. ...this is not how Americans resolve their differences. We talk, we argue, sometimes we march, and most of all we vote. We do not resort to violence by individuals or by mobs. So, let's all pitch in... and get that office open again quickly."

Over 500 people contributed to the campaign with some leaving comments with their donation.

The GOP office was vandalised late Saturday as a bottle of flammable liquid was thrown through a window along with the words "Nazi Republicans leave town or else". A swastika was also spray-painted on a building adjacent to the office. No one was hurt.

"The office itself is a total loss," state GOP executive director Dallas Woodhouse said. "The only thing important to us is that nobody was killed..."

While Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted that the attack "is horrific and unacceptable", Republican nominee Donald Trump blamed the act on Democrats in a tweet and encouraged local Republicans.