Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by 7 points in Pennsylvania, which is down a bit from the double-digit lead she enjoyed immediately after the Democratic National Convention in July, according to a Franklin & Marshall poll released Thursday.
Mrs. Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, had a 7-point, 47 percent to 40 percent, lead over Mr. Trump among likely voters in the poll, which is down from the 11-point, 49 percent to 38 percent, lead she had in a Franklin & Marshall survey taken right after the Democrats’ convention.
Among a broader pool of registered voters, Mrs. Clinton had a 4-point, 43 percent to 39 percent, lead over Mr. Trump, which is well down from her 13-point, 48 percent to 35 percent, lead in the last Franklin & Marshall poll.
Mrs. Clinton’s favorability rating has taken a hit since the last survey. She now has a 38 percent/54 percent favorable/unfavorable split among registered voters, compared to a 47 percent/49 percent split in July.
Mr. Trump has a similar 37 percent/58 percent split, which is a step up from his 33 percent/62 percent split in July.
Voters sided with Mrs. Clinton over Mr. Trump on who has the experience needed to be president, who is most prepared to handle foreign policy issues, and who has the character and judgment needed to be president.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, led Mrs. Clinton on honesty and trustworthiness, and had a narrow edge on the issues of the economy and terrorism.
Mrs. Clinton has about a 7-point lead over Mr. Trump in the state in the latest Real Clear Politics average, which includes the new Franklin & Marshall poll. President Obama carried the state by about 5 points in 2012.
Mr. Trump has made a significant push to try to turn Pennsylvania red this year. If the Republican nominee holds all the states that 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney won and flips Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida, he will win the election.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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