Independent voters are fleeing Republican Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE, helping Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE open up a 5-point lead nationally as the candidates prepare for a pivotal second debate on Sunday night.

A Quinnipiac University survey released Friday found Clinton taking 45 percent support, compared with 40 percent for Trump. Libertarian Gary Johnson Gary Earl JohnsonWhat the numbers say about Trump's chances at reelection Presidential race tightens in Minnesota as Trump plows resources into state The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden condemns violence, blames Trump for fomenting it l Bitter Mass. primaries reach the end l Super PAC spending set to explode MORE scores 6 percent in the poll, while Green Party nominee Jill Stein takes 3 percent support.

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In the same poll from mid-September — conducted before the first presidential debate — Clinton held only a 1-point lead.



The candidates entered that debate, which was viewed by 80 million people, essentially locked in a tie. Since then, self-described independents have abandoned Trump in favor of Clinton.



In the Quinnipiac survey from September, Trump led 42 to 35 among unaffiliated voters, while Johnson took 15 percent support.



Clinton now leads 46 to 32 among independents — a 21-point swing — while Johnson’s support among the voting bloc has fallen to 10 percent.



The Libertarian had been cutting into Clinton’s support, particularly among young voters and left-leaning independents. The trend alarmed Democrats, who feared a replay of the 2000 election, when Green Party nominee Ralph Nader was blamed for spoiling the election for Al Gore Albert (Al) Arnold GoreCruz says Senate Republicans likely have votes to confirm Trump Supreme Court nominee 4 inconclusive Electoral College results that challenged our democracy Fox's Napolitano: 2000 election will look like 'child's play' compared to 2020 legal battles MORE.

But Johnson has staggered through a disastrous stretch of campaigning in which he repeatedly flubbed questions abut foreign policy, raising questions about his fitness to be commander in chief.



Clinton has benefitted from Johnson’ decline, doubling her lead over Trump in the RealClearPolitics average over the last three weeks.



Clinton’s lead among women, 53 to 33, is greater than Trump’s lead among men, 42 to 35, in the Quinnipiac survey.



And non-white voters break 63 to 18 for the Democrat, while white voters only support Trump by a 51 to 38 margin.



“Post-debate, Hillary Clinton checks all the boxes,” said Quinnipiac pollster Tim Malloy. “With her base of women and non-white voters now solidly behind her and independent voters moving into her column, Donald Trump gets a wake-up call. The Indies are leaving in droves.”



Both candidates are off the campaign trail on Friday in advance of Sunday night’s debate, a town hall-style event in St. Louis that will be hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC’s Martha Raddatz.



Trump badly needs a strong showing in the debate to claw back into the race.



Pundits overwhelmingly declared Clinton the winner of the first debate, after Trump was repeatedly baited into defenses of past controversies.



The GOP nominee compounded his poor showing by spending the ensuing days feuding with a former Miss Universe contestant over her weight and sex life.



Trump has also dabbled in attacks against Clinton for her husband’s past infidelities; a strategy Republicans are warning against.



The Republican’s supporters are hopeful he’ll be more disciplined on Sunday night, and that his performance will lead to a comeback.

Time is running out for Trump, with just about a month left until Election Day.

Clinton has opened up a 4.5-point lead nationally in the RealClearPolitics average and has led in almost every survey released in the aftermath of the first debate.



Worse for Trump, his path through the battleground states has been narrowing by the day.



Of the swing states, Trump is only the favorite to win Ohio, according to the RCP average, although the two most recent surveys of the state have shown Clinton edging ahead.



In Florida, another must-win state for Trump, the race has gone from a toss-up to Clinton holding a 3-point advantage.



Clinton leads in New Hampshire, has pulled away in Pennsylvania, and appears to have regained her footing in Colorado.



North Carolina and Nevada look like they could go either way, but Clinton has room to drop one or both of these if recent polling trends hold elsewhere.



Trump’s weakness among independents in the latest Quinnipiac survey is a troubling sign for his campaign.



GOP nominee Mitt Romney won independents by 5 points in 2012, and President Obama was still able to coast to victory by carrying every battleground state except for North Carolina.



Still, Trump’s support has proved surprisingly resilient.



Every time Clinton has threatened to run away with the race Trump has bounced back to within striking distance.



A strong showing on Sunday night will be paramount to keeping his hopes alive.

- This story was updated at 2:13 p.m.