Likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has a single-digit lead over presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in deep-blue Connecticut, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Mrs. Clinton was at 45 percent in the Quinnipiac University poll and Mr. Trump was at 38 percent.
“While Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump, her single digit lead is smaller than might be expected from true-blue Connecticut, and her negative favorability rating is almost as bad as his,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz.
Mrs. Clinton was viewed favorably by 37 percent of Connecticut voters and was viewed unfavorably by 55 percent, while Mr. Trump had a 33 percent/61 percent favorable/unfavorable split.
In a four-way contest, Mrs. Clinton’s lead also narrowed slightly. She was at 41 percent and Mr. Trump was at 36 percent, with Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson at 6 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 3 percent.
“Maybe Connecticut will matter again in the general election, just as it did in the primaries. Trump won the primary overwhelmingly,” Mr. Schwartz said. “Could he win here again in November? Unlikely, but there already have been so many surprises, who knows?”
About six in 10 voters said Mrs. Clinton is prepared for the job as president and has the right “personality and temperament” for the job, while about seven in 10 said Mr. Trump is not prepared and does not have the right personality and temperament.
Fifty-five percent said Mr. Trump would bring about real change in the way things are done in Washington, while 82 percent of voters said it would be “business as usual” with Mrs. Clinton as president.
“It’s pretty amazing that Trump is within single digits of Clinton, given how poorly he scores on having the temperament and being prepared for the presidency,” Dr. Schwartz said. “What Trump has going for him is the desire for change, and the weakness of Hillary Clinton.”
Sen. Bernard Sanders, meanwhile, led Mr. Trump by 19 points, 54 percent to 35 percent.
Mrs. Clinton reached the number of delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination on Monday, according to a tally from the Associated Press.
Mr. Sanders’ campaign, though, said the total depends on superdelegates — party leaders who can support either candidate — and that she still doesn’t have the required number of pledged delegates.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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