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Poll: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton still tied in Ohio during GOP convention

Chrissie Thompson
cthompson@enquirer.com

CLEVELAND - Donald Trump remains tied with Democrat Hillary Clinton in swing-state Ohio as his Republican convention plays out in the Buckeye State, a new Suffolk University / USA TODAY poll shows.

Forty-four percent of likely Ohio voters said they would vote for Trump, and 44 percent said they would vote for Clinton. The poll used surveyed 500 likely voters Monday through Wednesday, as the GOP convention played out in Northeast Ohio.

With the addition of third-party candidates, Clinton gains an edge, 43 percent to Trump's 39 percent, a difference that is within the margin of error.

Trump has had a rocky GOP convention thus far in the ultimate swing state, which all Republicans have needed to make it to the White House. He, his campaign and his supporters have openly feuded with Ohio's governor, John Kasich, who has declined to endorse his former presidential rival. His wife, Melania, gave a smooth speech, then became embroiled in a controversy over allegations that portions of it were plagiarized from a Michelle Obama speech. He invited another former presidential rival, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, to speak at the convention, only to have him advocate not for voting for Trump, but for voting according to conscience. Cruz was booed and jeered for the speech.

The top issue to those voters: terrorism and national security, which 24 percent of respondents named as their highest priority. That beat out a perennial top issue, jobs and the economy, which 17 percent named as top priority. Fifty-five percent said they feel less safe in the U.S. than they did five to 10 years ago, while only 12 percent feel more safe.

In Ohio's U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman leads the Democrat, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, 37 percent to 33 percent – within the margin of error. Green Party candidate Joseph DeMare received nearly 5 percent in the poll.

Live callers surveyed voters on land lines and cell phones. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points.

Several recent polls have shown Trump and Clinton tied in Ohio. Clinton will get her week of media coverage next week, during the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.