Clinton continues to climb in polls, opens up 6-point lead over Trump

(Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

published 3 October 2016

Hillary Clinton is still gaining momentum following her debate performance last week. In a new Politico/Morning Consult poll out Monday, the Democratic presidential nominee leads her Republican rival, Donald Trump, by 6 points in a four-way race, 42 percent to 36 percent. When third-party candidates Jill Stein and Gary Johnson are taken out of the equation, Clinton's lead on Trump grows by 1 point, 46 percent to 39 percent. In the same poll taken immediately after the debate, Clinton led by 3 points, 41 percent to 38 percent; before the debate, Trump led by 1 point.

Trump suffered what Politico called a "particularly tough" week on the campaign trail last week. The poll indicated his remarks about former Miss Universe Alicia Machado gaining weight didn't do him any favors with women, with 55 percent saying the comments gave them a "less favorable view" of the Republican candidate, and 43 percent saying it made them "less likely to support Trump," Politico reported.

Clinton's lead in this poll, however, is more dramatic than in polling averages. The Real Clear Politics polling average shows her ahead just 2.3 points in a four-way race, and 2.5 points ahead in a head-to-head matchup.