The new poll found that 41 percent of those surveyed have a favorable opinion of Trump, versus 56 percent who have an unfavorable opinion. That’s an improvement from the March Fox poll, when Trump had a 31-65 favorable-unfavorable number.

Clinton’s favorable-unfavorable figure is 37-61, not much changed from March.

The poll shows the electorate deeply divided by sex, with huge gender gaps on each side. Trump leads among men by a 55 to 33 margin, while Clinton leads among women by 50 to 36.

Overall, Clinton’s lead appears to have been shrinking in the last couple of weeks, since Trump wrapped up the Republican nomination. Recent polls have shown Clinton ahead by two points, six points, and seven points, with the exception (from CNN) showing Clinton up by 13 points. A Rasmussen poll in late April showed Trump up by two.

Critics inevitably point out that polls at this stage do not predict the vote in November. They don’t. But they show where the race is now. Clinton was likely up by double digits one or two months ago, and the race is likely closer now. It could change many times in coming months. But it appears the race is tighter than it once was.

The new polling might influence the contest in one notable way. Republicans who oppose Trump have repeatedly cited Clinton’s polling lead as evidence Trump is headed to a disastrous loss in November — a loss that will sink the GOP’s down-ballot candidates. Therefore, the argument goes, Republicans should either choose a different candidate at the convention or support a third-party ticket. But if Trump is competitive in the polls — and there are not yet enough to know if there really is a new trend — the argument could become more difficult to make.