Two new polls of the presidential race show a big opening for a third party presidential candidate to gain traction.
A new SurveyUSA poll found that with four candidates in the race, 36 percent of respondents chose Donald Trump, 39 percent Hillary Clinton, 6 percent Libertarian Gary Johnson, 4 percent Green party standard bearer Jill Stein. 5 percent would stay home and 9 percent were undecided.
And a new NBC/SurveyMonkey poll, meanwhile, shows Clinton and Trump polling 49 percent to 42 percent. When other candidates are factored in, Clinton and Trump remain close, 42 percent to 38 percent. Johnson receives 9 percent support, and Stein 5 percent.
The SurveyUSA poll suggests independents are more wary of Clinton than Trump. They choose Trump over Clinton 34 percent to 27 percent. Johnson drew 13 percent, and Stein 5 percent.
The poll also shows white Americans choose Trump over Hillary 40 percent to 34 percent, but other racial groups prefer Clinton: Black Americans back Clinton 64 percent to 17 percent, Hispanic Americans 45 percent to 29 percent, and Asian Americans 48 percent to 29 percent.
Ideology plays an important role in people’s responses. People who identify as “very conservative” strongly lean Trump, and those who identify as “very liberal” heavily lean towards Clinton. Johnson’s numbers are highest among moderates on both sides, while Stein’s are highest among liberals. More moderates are also undecided.
