Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by 7 percentage points, 47-40, among registered voters surveyed in a new Monmouth University poll.
Clinton’s lead expands to 8 percentage points, 49-41, among likely voters. But her advantage contracts slightly to 6 percentage points when including third party candidates Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party and Jill Stein of the Green Party.
“Clinton has the advantage as the general election campaign kicks off, particularly in key swing states,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, in a statement. “However, all signs point to 2016 turning out the most polarized electorate in memory.”
Clinton’s favorability rating is deep underwater at 36 percent favorable and 52 percent unfavorable, but Trump is even worse off at 28 percent favorable and 57 percent unfavorable.
On the issues, Clinton leads Trump on handling the the threat of terrorism and the economy and jobs. Seventy percent of those surveyed opposed Trump’s ban on Muslims entering the United States.
Trump leads among men and whites, but Clinton leads among women, Hispanics, African Americans and Asian voters.
In Monmouth’s March poll — before either candidate became their parties’ presumptive nominees — Clinton led Trump by 10 percentage points, 48-38.
The June poll was conducted before the latest Trump campaign turmoil, when Trump axed his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Monday morning. Whether the major shakeup at the top of Trump’s campaign will alter public opinion remains to be seen.
The Monmouth University survey was conducted from June 15-19 with a 3.5 percentage point margin of error. Monmouth surveyed 803 registered voters nationwide.
