Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton’s favorability ratings are virtually the same level in mid-October as they were before the Republican and Democratic conventions, according to a new Gallup poll released Wednesday evening.
Clinton began and ended with a 10-point favorability advantage over Trump between the convention and this week. Clinton was viewed positively by 40 percent of national adults in early July and was viewed favorably by 41 percent of people in the Oct. 11-17 survey. The former secretary of state peaked at 43 percent in early August following the Democratic National Convention. Her lowest level was 38 percent at various points throughout the summer.
Trump began July at 32 percent and only lost 1 point in the four months despite recent claims he groped multiple women on separate occasions. He also peaked following his party’s convention, hitting 38 percent. His current 31 percent is the lowest he has seen except for one week prior to the Republican National Convention.
More than two-in-five adults had strong negative views of Clinton and more than half of people felt the same way about Trump, supporting the theme some feel this election is more about the “lesser of two evils.”
The poll was conducted by landline and cellphone interviews with 3,582 adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The margin of error was 2 percent.
