Monmouth Poll: Hillary Leads Trump by 7 Points Nationally, in Swing States

Democrat Hillary Clinton leads Republican Donald Trump by seven points both nationally and in key swing states, according to a Monmouth University poll released Monday.

Clinton leads Trump 47 percent to 40 percent among registered voters, and by eight points — 49 percent to 41 percent — among likely voters. Clinton also leads Trump by eight points (47-39) in the 10 swing states the two major party candidates will battle over in November.

Those states — Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin — were decided by less than 7 percentage points in 2012.

Clinton's lead is cut, however, when Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are factored in.

Those results:

• Clinton: 42 percent
• Trump: 36 percent
• Johnson: 9 percent
• Stein: 4 percent

"About one in seven voters would like to cast their ballot for a third party candidate," Monmouth's Patrick Murray said.

"The fear of either Clinton or Trump getting into the White House, though, may lead some to hold their noses and vote for the other major party nominee. And right now, a Trump victory appears to be the more troubling outcome for these voters."

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