Clinton takes poll lead as desperate Trump hints 'assassination'

Clinton takes poll lead as desperate Trump hints 'assassination'
Post-convention bounce favours Clinton as Trump's campaign reels from a series of costly indiscretions.
3 min read
09 August, 2016
Several polls show that Hilary Clinton's lead over Trump is increasing [Getty]
Hillary Clinton is now ahead of Donald Trump by 10 points, according to a new poll released on Tuesday, suggesting that a series of ill-advised remarks and faux pas by the real estate tycoon are beginning to cause real damage to his campaign.

The NBC News / Survey Monkey poll found that the former first lady is ahead of Trump with 51 percent to his 41 percent - the biggest margin recorded since the two organisations began measuring opinions on the two nominees in May.

The survey is one of many that have shown a surge in favour of Clinton following the Democratic National Convention, both nationally and in swing states like Ohio.

A number of gaffes and racially charged comments by Trump also seem to have dealt a significant blow to his campaign, with voters beginning to distance themselves from the Republican nominee's sustained tirades against his opponents.

In recent weeks, Trump has drawn sharp criticism after calling for Russia to hack Clinton's email, insulted the Muslim parents of a slain US soldier and challenged the US' commitment to NATO.

On Tuesday, the Republican nominee went as far as to suggest that his supporters could use their constitutional right to bear arms to assassinate his opponent for the White House

On Tuesday, the Republican nominee went as far as to suggest that his supporters could use their constitutional right to bear arms to assassinate his opponent for the White House, drawing an awkward stir from his audience in Wilmington, North Carolina.

"If she [Clinton] gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks," Trump said on the issue of Supreme Court nominations. "Although the second amendment people – maybe there is, I don't know," Trump continued, alluding to the constitution's amendment that protects the right of Americans to bear arms.

Clinton's campaign hit back at the comments, using the Republican nominee's words as further evidence that the businessman is not fit for the job of president.

Trump's rhetoric seems to have harmed his hopes of becoming US president, while House Republicans are now said to be concerned about losing their majority to the Democrats.

The latest polling has shown that Clinton still leads Trump with a significant margin even when other presidential candidates are considered.

In a four-way contest, Clinton beats Trump by 6 percent, with the Republican nominee trailing behind with 38 percent Clinton's 44 percent. Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson comes in at third with 10 percent, followed by Green Party nominee Jill Stein with 4 percent.