Polls ahead of debate show the race is close
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%.