Poll: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump in dead heat in Georgia, Iowa
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are virtually tied in the battleground states of Iowa and Georgia, according to a Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday afternoon.
The poll found in the traditionally Republican state of Georgia, 44 percent of likely voters back Trump while 43 percent support Clinton. Eight percent support Libertarian Gary Johnson. Trump has lost significant ground in the state over the last month -- he had a lead of 7 percentage points in late September. The last time a Democrat won Georgia was in 1992 when Bill Clinton carried it.
In Iowa, Clinton and Trump are tied at 44 percent with 4 percent backing Johnson. Trump has also lost support in Iowa since the last poll conducted in late September when he led Clinton by 7 percentage points. President Obama won Iowa in 2008 and 2012, but George W. Bush carried the state in 2004.
Meanwhile, Clinton is ahead by 4 percentage points in North Carolina -- 47 percent to 43 percent and way ahead in Virginia -- 50 percent to 38 percent. Mr. Obama won North Carolina in 2008, but GOP presidential nominee won it in 2012. Mr. Obama won Virginia twice.
The poll found that Clinton leads among people who cast their ballots early in Georgia, Iowa and North Carolina, where early voting is offered.
More men back Trump than Clinton in Georgia, Iowa and North Carolina while men are split between the two nominees in Virginia. Majorities of women in Iowa, North Carolina and Georgia support Clinton while close to half, a plurality, in Iowa do, too.
In Iowa and Georgia, independent voters are divided between the two candidates. Clinton leads among independent voters in Virginia, but Trump leads among independents in North Carolina.
The poll comes with 12 days to go before Election Day on Nov. 8. Clinton is spending Thursday in North Carolina, campaigning with first lady Michelle Obama for the first time. Trump is spending Thursday barnstorming through the battleground state of Ohio.
The poll surveyed between 702 and 791 likely voters in each of the battleground states between Oct. 20 and 26 with margins of error between 3.5 and 3.7 percentage points.
