Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonThree strategies to help Clinton build “Team of Teams” Clinton and Trump tied in national poll What Democrats are talking about as the convention starts MORE and Donald TrumpDonald TrumpThree strategies to help Clinton build “Team of Teams” Clinton and Trump tied in national poll What Democrats are talking about as the convention starts MORE are tied in the race for the presidency as the Democratic National Convention opens, according to a new poll. Fifty percent said the event made them feel better about Trump, while 36 percent said it hurt their view of the billionaire.
Advertisement
Following the convention, which more than half of the voters (53 percent) listened in to, the republicans seem to have been able to consolidate their base with 85 percent of Republicans ready to vote for Trump as compared to the 79 percent from the week before. Mr Trump’s new edge rests largely on increased support among independents, 43 per cent of whom said that Mr Trump’s convention in Cleveland left them more likely to back him, while 41 per cent were dissuaded.
In an important turning of the tide, Trump’s recent gains come primarily from self-declared independent voters, 46% of whom say they now support Trump, as opposed to only 31% who favored the Republican prior to the Convention. This result, like the CNN poll, has Trump and Clinton within the margin of error. Many political experts believe Americans are too ideologically divided these days for a televised party gathering to convince a significant number of voters to change their minds.
Two prominent convention speakers saw their stock rise post-convention as well. Favorability ratings for Trump’s wife, Melania, climbed from 27% pre-convention to 43% post-convention, despite news that her Monday night speech contained passages lifted from Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic convention speech. Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence, whose Wednesday speaking slot was largely overshadowed following Ted Cruz’s defiant stand on the convention stage, also bolstered the electorate’s impression of him, landing at a 39% favorable rating overall, up from 26% pre-convention. Further, 45% continue to say they’d prefer someone other than Trump as the nominee.
Advertisement
CBS News conducted its latest sampling of 1,118 registered voters via cell and landline telephone interviews from July 22-24. The CNN poll was also taken July 22-24.
