AFP GETTY/ EPA Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will go head-to-head on Monday night

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The Washington Post ABC News poll found the Democrat and Republican rivals are tied at 41 per cent support among registered voters. Mrs Clinton lost her slim margin from last month after taking a week off from the campaign trail as she battled pneumonia. 54 per cent of men back billionaire businessman Mr Trump with 55 per cent of women in favour of Mrs Clinton. Some 53 per cent of white voters favour Mr Trump compared to 37 per cent for Mrs Clinton.

The Washington Post ABC News poll found the Democrat and Republican rivals are tied at 41 per cent support among registered voters

But Mrs Clinton has the support of 69 per cent of non-white voters, with just 19 per cent endorsing her Republican rival. And among college educated white women, Mrs Clinton leads by 57 per cent to Mr Trump's 32 per cent. Mr Trump, who has sparked controversy throughout the campaign with his views on border control and abortion, is ahead of Mrs Clinton by more than four to one among white men without college degrees.

AFP GETTY 100 million Americans are expected to watch the TV debate

But both candidates are struggling to combat high negativity among voters with just 39 per cent of registered voters viewing Mrs Clinton favourably compared to 38 per cent having a positive impression of Mr Trump. The former first lady is also lacking in honesty according to 66 per cent of voters, with 42 per cent of voters saying Mr Trump is honest and trustworthy. The pair will go head-to-head on Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York in the first of three presidential debates. HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT?

EPA Mrs Clinton lost her slim margin from last month after taking a week off from the campaign trail

REUTERS Mrs Clinton has the support of 69 per cent of non-white voters

Mr Trump has threatened to bring a former lover of Mrs Clinton's husband Bill to the debate in the latest of a series of references to the former president's infidelities. Vocal Trump critic and billionaire investor Mark Cuban is expected to sit in the front row for the televised debate. Mr Trump tweeted: "If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him!" IS DONALD TRUMP LIKELY TO BE PRESIDENT?

GETTY 54 per cent of men back billionaire businessman Mr Trump

GETTY Some 53 per cent of white voters favour Mr Trump

Mr Clinton admitted having an affair with Miss Flowers in the 1980s, under oath in January 1998. With just six weeks before election, Monday's debate presents a major opportunity for the candidates after a mostly negative race in which the pair have sought to brand each other as untrustworthy and dangerous for the country. The live, televised matchup is expected to draw a Super Bowl-sized television audience of 100 million Americans, according to some commentators.

REUTERS Bill Clinton's infidelities have been drawn into the campaign as the election heats up

If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2016

Hi Donald. You know I'm in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!... — Gennifer Flowers (@gennflowers) September 24, 2016

AFP GETTY Mr Trump has threatened to invite Bill Clinton's former lover Gennifer Flowers to the debate

US Elections 2016 in pictures Tue, November 8, 2016 The top photos following the campaign journey of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the US Elections 2016 Play slideshow Getty 1 of 57 US Elections 2016 in pictures