Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton leads in vital battleground states Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, while Republican nominee Donald Trump leads in Ohio, polls released on Oct. 3 show.
In Florida, Clinton beats Trump 46 percent to 41 percent among likely voters, while Libertarian Gary Johnson gets 5 percent of support, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein gets 2 percent, a Quinnipiac University polls find. The survey was conducted between Sept. 27 and Oct. 2.
Clinton also leads at 46 percent in North Carolina. Trump has 43 percent in the state, while Johnson gets 7 percent.
In Pennsylvania, Clinton is ahead of Trump, 45 percent to 41 percent, 5 percent said they backed Johnson, and 2 percent chose Stein.
It’s a different story in the swing state of Ohio. Trump beats Clinton 47 percent to 42 percent in that state, while 6 percent of those surveyed say they support Johnson, and 1 percent back Stein.
“The good news for Secretary Clinton is that she has opened a five-point lead in Florida, in what had been a dead heat in Quinnipiac University’s September 8 poll,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“But Donald Trump holds his lead in Ohio and stays close in North Carolina while she retains her small margin in Pennsylvania,” he added.
In a two-way race, Clinton beats Trump in Florida 49 percent to 44 percent. In North Carolina, the Democrat leads over the Republican nominee 49 percent to 46 percent, and she leads Trump in Pennsylvania, 48 percent to 43 percent.
In a head-to-head matchup in Ohio, Trump’s force weakens compared to his lead in a four-way race, 49 percent to 46 percent.
Clinton Leads in National Poll
Clinton beats Trump 47 percent to 42 percent in a four-way race among likely voters nationwide, according to a CNN/ORC poll, while Johnson got 7 percent of support and Stein 2 percent. The post-debate poll was conducted between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2.
Clinton’s lead in the polls comes from more support among men, and increased support from independents. The Democrat also gained support among whites with no college degrees, who have been among Trump’s strongest supporters.
Clinton Wins First Debate
In all four swing states, likely voters surveyed by Quinnipiac said the former secretary of state won the first presidential debate last week.
- Florida: Clinton 56%, Trump 21%
- North Carolina: Clinton 49%, Trump 24%
- Pennsylvania: Clinton 57%, Trump 21%
- Ohio: Clinton 50%, Trump 24%
“It’s win-win in Pennsylvania for Hillary Clinton. A big ‘W’ for the debate, and a slightly too-close-to- be-comfortable lead in the head-to-head matchup,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“With neighboring Ohio leaning to Donald Trump, critical Pennsylvania stays true to Clinton who barely holds her ground from her pre-debate numbers,” he added.
