Monmouth Poll: Clinton Leads Trump by 7 Points Nationally

Trump photo by Michael Vadon, used under a Creative Commons license

A new poll from Monmouth University has Hillary Clinton out in front in the presidential race.

Clinton leads Donald Trump nationally, 47 percent to 40 percent, according to the poll. When Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green candidate Jill Stein are included, Clinton’s lead is 42 percent to 36 percent.

The national preference poll with the other candidates could be a little misleading, as neither party may be on the ballot in all 50 states. The Libertarian Party, however, currently only has ballot access in 33 states, though it says it is working on all 50 states plus DC. The Green Party believes it can get on the ballot in 47 states.

Still, Clinton leads by a wide total in both polls.

“Clinton has the advantage as the general election campaign kicks off, particularly in key swing states,” Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a release. “However, all signs point to 2016 turning out the most polarized electorate in memory.”

Clinton has a 36 percent favorable/52 percent unfavorable rating. Trump is even worse: 28 percent favorable, 57 percent unfavorable. While many voters interviewed by Monmouth would like to vote for a third party candidate, those strong unfavorable ratings may push them to vote for the major-party candidate they like a little better than the other one.

“About one in seven voters would like to cast their ballot for a third party candidate,” Murray said. “The fear of either Clinton or Trump getting into the White House, though, may lead some to hold their noses and vote for the other major party nominee. And right now, a Trump victory appears to be the more troubling outcome for these voters.”

In addition to the presidential preference, 52 percent of respondents agreed with a ban on weapons similar to the one used in the Orlando nightclub massacre. Forty-three percent opposed. Seventy percent opposed a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., with just 21 percent supporting.

The poll was conducted by telephone from June 15th to 19th with 803 registered voters across the country. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percent.

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