Q Poll: Sanders stronger over Trump in key swing states

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton participates in a round table conversation on national security at the Virginia Air and Space Center June 15, 2016 in Hampton, Virginia. The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows Hilliary Clinton pulling ahead over Donald Trump in Florida, but in a tight race in Ohio and Pennsylvania. less Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton participates in a round table conversation on national security at the Virginia Air and Space Center June 15, 2016 in Hampton, Virginia. The latest ... more Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Q Poll: Sanders stronger over Trump in key swing states 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows Hillary Clinton pulling ahead of Donald Trump in Florida, but in a tight race in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

It also showed that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a long shot for the Democratic presidential nomination, runs better than Clinton in head-to-head match ups with Trump in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The Swing State Poll focuses on Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania because since 1960 no candidate has won the presidential race without taking at least two of these three states.

Clinton opened an 8-point lead over Trump in Florida — the largest hiof the presidential swing states — and erased a small Trump lead to create a dead heat in Ohio, while Pennsylvania remains too close to call, according to the Quinnipiac poll.

The presidential matchups show:

Florida — Clinton over Trump 47-39 percent, compared to 43-42 percent on May 10. Sanders tops Trump 45-39 percent.

Ohio — Clinton and Trump tied 40-40 percent, compared to a 43-39 percent Trump lead on May 10. Sanders leads Trump 48-38 percent.

Pennsylvania — Clinton at 42 percent to Trump’s 41 percent, virtually unchanged from the 43-42 percent lean Clinton had on May 10. Sanders tops Trump 47-40 percent.

With third-party candidates in the race, results are:

Florida — Clinton tops Trump 42-36 percent, with 7 percent for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3 percent for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Ohio — Clinton at 38 percent, Trump at 36 percent, Johnson at 8 percent and Stein at 3 percent.

Pennsylvania — Clinton at 39 percent to Trump's 36 percent, with 9 percent for Johnson and 4 percent for Stein.

“Secretary Hillary Clinton is pulling ahead in Florida, but the pictures in Ohio and Pennsylvania are much less clear,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll, said in a release Tuesday announcing the results.

“The at-times bitter verbal battles between Trump and some Republicans leaders is showing in these numbers,” Brown said. “In these three key states, Clinton is doing better, and in the case of Florida much better, among Democrats than Trump is among Republicans. Traditionally GOP presidential candidates score better on this party loyalty test.”