Q-Poll: Clinton Inches Up Over Trump In Florida
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Hillary Clinton had opened up an 8-point lead over Republican Donald Trump in Florida, the largest of the presidential swing states, according to the latest Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll.
The Democratic presumptive nominee has also erased a small Trump lead in Ohio. Pennsylvania remains too close to call.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a long shot for the Democratic presidential nomination, runs markedly better than Clinton in head-to-head matchups with Trump in Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to the poll numbers.
The Swing State Poll focused on Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania because since 1960 no candidate has won the presidential race without taking at least two of these three states.
The presidential matchups show:
Florida – Clinton over Trump 47 – 39 percent, compared to 43 – 42 percent May 10.
Sanders tops Trump 45 – 39 percent.
Ohio – Clinton and Trump tied 40 – 40 percent, compared to a small 43 – 39 percent
Trump lead May 10. Sanders leads Trump 48 – 38 percent.
Pennsylvania – Clinton at 42 percent to Trump's 41 percent, virtually unchanged from
the 43 – 42 percent lean to Clinton May 10. Sanders tops Trump 47 – 40 percent.
"Secretary Hillary Clinton is pulling ahead in Florida, but the pictures in Ohio and Pennsylvania are much less clear," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll. "The at-times bitter verbal battles between Trump and some Republicans leaders is showing in these numbers. In these three key states, Clinton is doing better, and in the case of Florida much better, among Democrats than Trump is among Republicans. Traditionally GOP presidential candidates score better on this party loyalty test."
READ: Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll Summary
By wide margins, voters in each state say Clinton is better prepared than Trump to be president; that she is more intelligent than Trump and that she has higher moral standards. Voters are divided on whether Trump is more honest and trustworthy than Clinton and voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania find him more inspiring.
Trump's support among men in Florida has dropped four points to 45 percent while Clinton garnered 41 percent.
Clinton's lead among women has 52 compared to Trump's 34 percent.
Republicans back Trump 82 - 9 while Clinton leads 93 – 2 among Democrats and 44 – 35 percent among independent voters.
The poll conducted in Florida had a 3-percent margin of error.
