Donald Trump enjoys a wide lead among likely Republican primary voters in Connecticut, while Hillary Clinton is the favored candidates for Democratic voters there, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows.
Coming off commanding victories in New York Tuesday, Trump and Clinton are now turning their attention to Connecticut and the four other Eastern states that hold their primaries on April 26. Trump won 60.5% of the vote in New York, while Clinton secured 57.9%.
In Connecticut, the billionaire businessman has the support of 48% of likely GOP voters, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich is supported by 28% and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz by 19%, according to the Quinnipiac poll, released Wednesday. Only 5% are undecided, but 25% of those who named a candidate said they may change their minds before the primary.
Nutmeg State Republicans want an outsider for president by a 59% to 33% margin, the polls shows, and among those who favor an outsider, 75% back Trump.
“Connecticut Republicans have gone for outsider candidates, such as (former Senate nominee) Linda McMahon and (former gubernatorial nominee) Tom Foley. They continue that trend with Donald Trump,” said Douglas Schwartz, Quinnipiac University’s poll director, in a memo accompanying the results.
Trump leads among both men and women, as well as residents with and without college degrees and those concerned about terrorism, the economy and government spending. Kasich is favored by voters aged 18 to 44, but Trump captures older respondents.
The race is tighter among the Democrats, but Clinton holds a 51% to 42% lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, with 6% undecided and 18% saying they may change their mind.
The former secretary of state has strong support from African-Americans, who back her 66% to 25% among likely Democratic voters. Women back Clinton 55% to 38%, but men give Sanders the edge by 50% to 45%.
Young voters overwhelmingly favor Sanders, by a 73% to 26% margin, while voters aged 35 and older remain solidly in Clinton’s corner.
Quinnipiac surveyed 823 likely Republican voters and 1,037 likely Democratic voters in Connecticut from April 12-18. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.4 percentage points for Republicans and plus or minus 3 percentage points for the Democrats.