Most voters choosing between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in a potential matchup in November say they are picking their candidate as a way to oppose the other person running, rather than because of positive feelings for their own candidate of choice, a new
McClatchy-Marist poll reveals.
By the numbers:
- 53 percent of Hillary Clinton's supporters say they pick her over Donald Trump because they oppose him;
- 61 percent of Trump's supporter say they pick him to oppose Clinton;
- Overall: 50 percent pick Clinton and 41 percent pick Trump.
In other potential matchups:
- Clinton and Ted Cruz tied, 47-47 percent;
- Clinton over John Kasich, 49-39 percent.
The poll also showed that there are some party members choosing the candidate from the opposing party, and there is a gender gap:
- Trump/Clinton matchup, more than one in 10 Republicans pick Clinton;
- Kasich vs. Clinton, more than one in 10 Democrats pick Kasich.
- Women: Clinton over Trump, 24 points, over Cruz by 12, and over Kasich by 5.
Sanders also fared better over the GOP field in potential matchups:
- Sanders vs. Trump: 57-37 percent;
- Sanders over Cruz: 53-41 percent;
- Over Kasich: 52-41 percent.
The survey of 1,297 adults was conducted between March 29-13, and carried an overall margin of error of 2.7 percentage points.