Clinton takes lead over Trump, says polls

WASHINGTON: Two head-to-head polls released on Sunday showed a resurgent Hillary Clinton vaulting atop the US presidential race after a tumultuous month for Donald Trump, who has failed to rally confidence among voters or party leaders.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll showed a 12 percentage point lead for the Democrat, her largest advantage since last fall and a dramatic improvement over last month when the poll showed her statistically tied with Trump.
If the presidential election were held today, 51% of respondents said they would vote for Clinton, versus 39% for Trump. However, a Wall Street JournalNBC News poll showed a slimmer lead for Clinton – 46% to Trump’s 41%. They were essentially tied, 39% for Clinton and 38% for Republican opponent, when third-party candidates were included, this poll showed.
The surveys come after a difficult month for the combative Trump, a political novice who fired his campaign manager and faced criticism for poor campaign organisation and a paltry war chest of $1.3 million at the end of May. Clinton, who has repea tedly pounded Trump as being “temperamentally unfit,” finished the month with $42 million.
Trump faced a widespread outcry after he accused a federal judge of bias because of his Mexican heritage. The judge is presiding over cases involving Trump’s defunct online university. And in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Orlando, he tweeted his thanks to people who congratulated him for “being right on radical Islamic terrorism.”
He renewed calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US and then doubled down, suggesting profiling of Muslims was not off the table.
Trump, on the other hand, has picked up some additional steam among Republicans in June. It will be important to see if Trump can hold or build on his improved status among Republicans into July, the poll said.
Still, Clinton and Trump, who are the least favourable presidential candidates in decades, have each lost ground among independents who lean toward neither party. (Agencies)