Xerxes Wilson

The News Journal

Delaware voters are behind Hillary Clinton, backing the Democratic nominee for president over Donald Trump, her Republican opponent in November's election, according to a new poll.



The landline and cell phone poll was commissioned by The News Journal and PublicMind, a professional polling and research service affiliated with Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. The poll, conducted July 20-24, surveyed 715 Republican- and Democrat-leaning residents across the state who identified themselves as registered voters.



This week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia saw Clinton become the first woman to be the presidential nominee for a major party. The poll shows she has strong support among Delaware Democrats, particularly with women and minorities.



Clinton received 42 percent support among those asked who they plan to vote for in November, followed by Trump with 32 percent. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson received 9 percent support from those polled.

Clinton received 48 percent support among Delaware women compared with Trump's 27 percent. Also, 65 percent of minorities said they plan to support Clinton, with Trump garnering only 9 percent support among such voters.



"These are two groups that will be critical to the successful candidate," said Krista Jenkins, director of PublicMind. "At least in Delaware, their loyalties are with Clinton."

Party unity has been the struggle underlying the conventions of both parties. The convention has seen a small but raucous crowd of Vermont Bernie Sanders make clear they are never voting for Clinton. But Delaware’s crew has stayed supportive even as they heard boos for Clinton, and even one-time Sanders supporters from the state say they’re united.

The Delawareans representing the state at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia have no doubt the state will strongly back Clinton.

“You haven’t heard any of that fighting with us. In Delaware, I think we all want to get along,” said State Reps. Debra J. Heffernan, D-Brandywine Hundred, a Clinton delegate. “I am proud and I am excited that we are going to help elect the first woman president. I can’t wait to hear people saying ‘Madame President. “

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Earlier this month, Clinton unveiled a plan to provide free college tuition for those coming from families earning less than $125,000 annually. Many saw it as a call to young Sanders supporters who were attracted to the Vermonter's promise to reduce barriers to college education.



The poll found Clinton's tuition proposal divisive in the First State with 45 percent of Delawareans supporting it and 47 percent opposing. Millennials and minorities were the greatest proponents of the plan with more than 60 percent of each group in support. Fifty-seven percent of whites and 56 percent of men opposed.

"As Bernie Sanders found, tuition-free college was a great draw among young people," Jenkins said. "Clinton's embrace of this certainly helps with millennials, but could hurt her with other groups."



Clinton's overall lead over Trump will surprise few in a state where there are three Democrats to every two Republicans. For State Sen. Greg Lavelle, R-Sharpley, the numbers were surprising for a different reason.



"I'm shocked Hillary is below 50 percent," Lavelle said.

He said it is too early to write the script on how November's general election will play out.

Delaware Republican Party Chairman Charlie Copeland said the numbers are positive for Trump because they do not reflect as wide a gap as party registration statistics would suggest exists.

"(Republicans) are out registered in Delaware statewide three-to-two. Polling right now shows Donald Trump losing four-to-three," Copeland said. "It is closer and the race hasn't even started yet."

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Copeland said he expects the Trump campaign will generate a much higher GOP turnout than previous Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. This could benefit GOP candidates down-ballot races for General Assembly seats, he said.

Republicans hope to break the Democrat majority in the State Senate in elections this fall.

"Delaware has a whole bunch of former auto workers, trades people that used to be involved in big building contracts and things around the state that just don't exist anymore and those are all Donald Trump voters," Copeland said. "Those are the people he is tied into."

The poll showed Delaware residents are, at this point, much more engaged in the presidential race compared to the statewide races to fill the state's lone seat in Congress.



Only 5 and 8 percent of Democrats and Republicans respectively said they didn't know who they will vote for in the presidential race. In Delaware's crowded Democratic primary for congress, more than 50 percent of voters are undecided, according to the poll.



The poll also asked residents where they stand on issues of income inequality, the performance of President Barack Obama and the general direction the country is heading. The results were:

Forty-three percent of Delaware residents believe government has a role in mitigating the divide between rich and poor, while 47 percent say it is the sole responsibility of individuals. Of Democrats polled, 59 percent said government should play a role, while 75 percent of Republicans said the onus is on the individual entirely.

Thirty-seven percent of Delawareans feel the county is on the right track, while 56 percent disagree.

Outgoing President Barack Obama has the approval of 55 percent of Delawareans, while 40 percent disagree with the president's performance.

Reporter Matthew Albright contributed to this article.

Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com. Follow @Ber_Xerxes on Twitter.