ON POLITICS

Polls ahead of debate show the race is close

Eliza Collins
USA TODAY
Workers prepare the stage for the presidential debate between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.,

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Hours before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are set to face-off in the first general election debate, a series of polls shows the race is close.

A Monmouth University national poll released Monday afternoon shows Clinton ahead of Trump by 4 points (46%-42%.) Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has the support of 8% of likely voters and Green Party’s Jill Stein had 2% support. Clinton’s likely voter support has remained unchanged but Trump’s has improved from 39% in late August.

A Bloomberg Politics poll also released Monday has the two candidates in a dead-heat in a two-way race, each with 46%. When third party candidates are added into the mix Trump leads by 2 points (within the margin of error), 43%-41%. Johnson has 8% and Stein has 4% support.

In Pennsylvania, Clinton is just 1 point ahead (well within the margin of error) of Trump in a four-way race, 45%-44%. Johnson has 6% and Stein has 3%.

And in Colorado Trump has a 1-point advantage, 42%-41%. Johnson has 13% and Stein has 3%.

A High Point University poll of North Carolina likely voters released later Monday had Clinton at 43%, Trump at 42% and Johnson at 10%.