FAU National Poll Finds Nearly Two-Thirds of Hispanics Voting for Clinton Over Trump

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump nationally by 48 percent among Hispanics – nearly twice the 26 percent margin she held in May – and has greatly increased her favorability rating, according to a new national survey by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI).

Clinton was the choice of 66 percent of respondents, while 18 percent chose Trump and 15 percent were undecided. Among Hispanic Democrats, Clinton leads 85 percent to 6 percent, while Independents and others favor her 55 percent to 17 percent. Trump leads among Hispanic GOP voters 56 percent to 31 percent. Clinton is winning the female Hispanic vote 68 percent to 14 percent, as well as male Hispanics, who favor her 64 percent to 23 percent.

Monica Escaleras, Ph.D., director of the BEPI, said Clinton has made significant inroads among Hispanics and is closing in on achieving the level of support U.S. President Barack Obama received during his 2012 reelection over Republican nominee Mitt Romney when Hispanics voted overwhelmingly for Obama (71 to 27 percent).

"Clinton has taken some major strides to increase her support among Hispanics," Escaleras said. "Her efforts to win over many who said they were undecided a couple of months ago are paying off."

Hispanics continue to view Clinton as better than Trump for the economy overall (62.5 to 23 percent) and keeping them safe from terrorism (56.2 percent to 22.9 percent).

"Clinton's support with Hispanics is growing in our polling," said Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at FAU and a research fellow of the Initiative. "That makes it increasingly difficult for Trump in battleground states such as Florida or Colorado where Hispanic voters may be the difference."

Clinton has increased her favorable rating by more than 12 points since May, from 41.6 to 53.8 percent, while also decreasing her unfavorable rating from 31 to 25.5 percent. Trump's numbers, meanwhile, have gone in the opposite direction, with his favorable rating dropping four points since May, from 21.8 to 17.8 percent, while his unfavorable rating increased from 60.8 to 67.6 percent.

The poll was conducted nationally July 1-31. The polling sample consisted of 500 Hispanics with a margin of error of +/- 4.33 percent and a 95 percent confidence level.

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SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Business and Economic Polling Initiative

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