Trump vaults to lead in major poll just one week from Election Day
REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Donald Trump took the lead over Hillary Clinton in a poll published Tuesday as the Democratic presidential nominee's campaign worked to recover from last week's surprise FBI announcement.
An ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll put Trump about 1 point ahead of Clinton. It was the first time since May that he edged out the former secretary of state in an ABC/Washington Post poll.
In a four-way race that included Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Trump had 46% support and Clinton has 45%.
Trump touted the poll in a tweet on Tuesday morning:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/793421274043285504
Wow, now leading in @ABC /@washingtonpost Poll 46 to 45. Gone up 12 points in two weeks, mostly before the Crooked Hillary blow-up!
Trump's 0.7-point lead was, however, within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.
The poll was conducted from October 27-30. FBI Director James Comey announced on Friday, October 28, that the FBI had reopened its investigation into Clinton's private email server.
Comey told Congress that the FBI had found new documents "pertinent" to the Clinton email investigation. The FBI had closed the investigation in July.
Clinton's campaign blasted Comey for his decision to break with protocol by announcing the investigation just days before the election. The FBI typically does not comment on ongoing investigations.
The FBI's announcement seemed to have had an effect on the polls. Enthusiasm for Clinton lessened Friday through Sunday, according to the ABC News/Washington Post poll. Enthusiasm for Trump held steady.
Clinton has largely been ahead of Trump in the polls for months, aside from temporary bumps the Trump campaign has seen. But just one week before the election, the race seems too close to call — in polls conducted after the FBI announcement, Clinton's lead narrowed.
Strangely, former House speaker and prominent Trump surrogate Newt Gingrich slammed the ABC News/Washington Post poll in a tweet on Tuesday:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/793440433519022080
Washington Post-ABC poll is an absurdity. Trump has not moved up 13 points in the last 8 days.he was NEVER 12 points behind. Ignore polls