Poll: Trump Ties Clinton in Florida, Slightly Trails in Ohio

A new Quinnipiac University swing state poll found Donald Trump is in a “virtual likely voter tie” with Hillary Clinton in Florida and is slightly trailing her in Ohio.

However, Clinton holds a 10 point lead over the Republican nominee in Pennsylvania.

In Florida, Clinton is up one point over Trump in a head-to-head matchup, 46 percent to 45 percent, but when third-party candidates are factored it, Clinton and Trump are tied at 43 percent.

In Ohio, Clinton has 49 percent to Trump’s 45 percent, but her lead slims to only two points over Trump when third party candidates are considered, which is within the margin of error.

In Pennsylvania, Clinton is up ten points over Trump, 52 percent to 42 percent. When third party candidates are considered, her lead over Trump decreases to nine points.

Quinnipiac University poll assistant director Peter A. Brown stated:

This Swing State Poll shows a mixed result for the presidential candidates, although certainly with an overall edge for Secretary Hillary Clinton. She has a double-digit lead in Pennsylvania and the narrowest of edges in Ohio, but Florida, with the largest cache of Electoral College votes is a tie. When voters are asked about a four-way ballot that includes Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein, Trump picks up a point or two against Secretary Clinton in each of the three states.

Brown added:

It is not that her voters are in love with Secretary Clinton — they just dislike her less than they disdain Trump. In fact, among Clinton voters in all three states more than four in 10 say their opposition to Trump, rather than their liking of her, is the main reason for their vote. Among Trump voters, dislike of Secretary Clinton is even a larger factor in their choice. Among Trump voters, well over half say they back him because they dislike her.

Quinnipiac focused on surveying Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania voters because no presidential candidate has won without winning two of the three states since 1960.

The poll surveyed voters from July 30 to Aug. 7 via phone interviews.

In Florida, 1,056 likely voters were questioned and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three points. For Ohio, 812 likely voters were sampled and the survey has a plus or minus 3.4 percent margin of error. In Pennsylvania, 815 likely voters were questioned, and like Ohio, the poll has a plus or minus 3.4 percent margin of error.