Democrat Hillary Clinton opens an 8-point lead over Republican Donald Trump in Florida, the largest of the presidential swing states, and erases a small Trump lead to create a dead heat in Ohio, while Pennsylvania remains too close to call, according to a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released today.
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, the independent Quinnipiac University Poll finds. The Swing State Poll focuses 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. With third party candidates in the race, results are:
- Florida – Clinton tops Trump 42 – 36 percent, with 7 percent for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3 percent for Green Party candidate Jill Stein;
- Ohio – Clinton at 38 percent, with Trump at 36 percent, Johnson at 8 percent and Stein at 3 percent;
- Pennsylvania – Clinton at 39 percent to Trump’s 36 percent, with 9 percent for Johnson and 4 percent for Stein.
“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.
CLICK HERE to see more details on the poll.
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement regarding the results of the poll from Quinnipiac University, which shows Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton virtually tied in the Keystone State.
“Despite a voter registration disadvantage of 920,000 voters, our Republican candidate Donald Trump is in a statistical dead heat with Hillary Clinton. Voters are tired of feeling left behind in the Obama-Clinton economy, and they’re ready to elect someone with business experience who can get the job done. With less than a month to go before the Republican National Convention, Pennsylvania voters are fired up for Donald Trump!”
The GOP mentioned some of these key points that favor Trump:
· Keystone State voters give Clinton a negative 41 – 56 percent favorability rating;
· 44 – 40 percent of PA voters said that Trump is more honest and trustworthy;
· Trump would be better creating jobs, Pennsylvania voters say 52 – 39 percent;
· Trump would be more effective against ISIS, voters say 51 – 42 percent.