Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are virtually tied in Quinnipiac University polls released Tuesday of the crucial swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.
In Florida and Pennsylvania, Clinton leads Trump 43 percent to 42 percent, within the margin of error. Trump is ahead in Ohio 43 percent to 39 percent.
The Quinnipiac polls found sharp divisions among voters of differing races and gender. (RELATED:Race Will Probably Play A Decisive Role In The General Election)
“This election may be good for divorce lawyers. The gender gap is massive and currently benefits Trump,” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll, said. “In Pennsylvania, Clinton’s 19-point lead among women matches Trump’s 21-point margin among men. In Ohio, she is up 7 points among women but down 15 points with men. In Florida she is up 13 points among women but down 13 points among men.”
In Florida, white voters support Trump 52 percent to 33 percent. Non-white voters go Democratic 63 percent to 20 percent. This gap is also found in Ohio. White voters there go Republican 49 percent to 32 percent, while non-white voters vote Clinton 76 percent to 14 percent. Similar numbers were found from Pennsylvania polling.
Both Clinton and Trump suffer from low favorability ratings in the swing states. In Ohio, Clinton is viewed favorably by 34 percent of voters and unfavorably by 62 percent. Trump has a favorability rating there of 36 percent and a negative rating of 57 percent. In Florida, both are viewed favorably by 37 percent and negatively by 57 percent.
Trump is viewed favorably by 39 percent of Pennsylvania voters and negatively by 55 percent of them. Clinton has lower numbers a positive rating of 37 percent and a negative rating of 58 percent.
The polls also help out Sanders’ argument that superdelegates should support him as he’d be a stronger candidate against Trump. Sanders leads Trump in all three states: 44 percent to 42 percent in Florida, 43 percent to 41 percent in Ohio, and 47 percent to 41 percent in Pennsylvania.
The three polls surveyed more than 1,000 voters and have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.