FAU Poll Finds Hispanics Backing Clinton Over Trump in Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Colorado and North Carolina
Sep 22, 2016, 08:00 ET
BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hillary Clinton is leading Donald Trump among Hispanics in the key battleground states of Florida, Ohio, Nevada, Colorado and North Carolina, according to a new survey by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI).
Of the five states polled, Florida provides the most Electoral College votes. The race there is shaping up as one of the closest races in the country, and Hispanics, which account for nearly one in every five voters (19 percent) could make the difference. The latest poll shows Clinton leads Trump among Hispanics in Florida by a margin of 53 percent to 34 percent.
In Ohio, where a growing Hispanic population accounts for 4 percent of the total vote, Clinton leads Trump 51 percent to 29 percent. In 2008, 65 percent of Hispanics in Ohio voted for U.S. President Barack Obama and in 2012, 54 percent voted to re-elect him.
Hispanics are estimated to make up 23 percent of the vote in Nevada. They have historically voted Democrat, with Obama winning 76 percent of their votes in 2008 and 71 percent in 2012. Clinton has a 54 to 25 percent lead over Trump among Hispanics.
In Colorado, where Hispanics are estimated to make up 15 percent of the state vote, Clinton is outpacing Trump 68 percent to 16 percent. President Obama won 61 percent of the vote in 2008 and 75 percent in 2012.
North Carolina Hispanics, which comprise an estimated 5 percent of the total vote, favor Clinton 57 percent to 29 percent over Trump. Obama lost the state in 2012 despite winning votes from 68 percent of Hispanics.
Clinton leads Trump among younger Hispanic voters (18 to 34 years old) in all five states by a range of 24 to 45 points. Clinton is also winning among Hispanic Independents in every state except Ohio.
Trump suffers from a very unfavorable image in every state, faring worst in Colorado with nearly 80 percent of Hispanics having an unfavorable opinion of him.
"Republicans cannot continue to underperform with Hispanics and maintain a realistic ability to win some of these battleground states," said Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at FAU and a research fellow of the Initiative.
For more information, visit business.fau.edu/bepi.
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SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Business and Economic Polling Initiative