Clinton Has Edge Over Trump On Range Of Issues, Poll Finds
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Americans trust Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton more than Republican leader Donald Trump to handle a wide range of issues, from immigration to health care to nominating Supreme Court justices, a new Associated Press-GfK poll finds.
Even when asked which of the two candidates would be best at "making American great'' -- the central promise of Trump's campaign -- Americans are slightly more likely to side with Clinton.
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Despite Americans' overall preference for Clinton on numerous issues, just 20 percent say she represents their own views very well on matters they care about.
But as with most issues addressed in the AP-GfK poll, the numbers for Trump are even worse: Just 15 percent of Americans say he represents their views very well.
While Clinton and Trump are the favorites to face off in the fall campaign, obstacles remain, particularly for the Republican billionaire.
He's leading in the delegate count, but needs to perform better in the upcoming final primaries in order to reach the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. If he fails to hit that number, the GOP contest will be decided at the party's convention in July and it's unclear whether Trump's slim campaign operation is prepared for that complex challenge.
Clinton has yet to shake Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders, who has energized young voters with his calls for breaking up Wall Street banks and making tuition free at public colleges and universities.
Sanders, capitalizing on his childhood ties to Brooklyn, stopped in Coney Island on Sunday and grabbed a Nathan's hot dog with his wife.
While Sanders faces tough odds of overtaking Clinton, who has a commanding lead in delegates, his continued presence in the race has rankled the former secretary of state and prevented her from fully turning her attention toward the general election.
"We have cut Secretary Clinton's lead by one-third in the last month we have won eight out of nine contests," he said. "We have the momentum. We're feeling really good with a path towards victory."
Clinton spent part of Sunday courting the black vote, visiting several predominately black churches with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, stumping on her behalf.
"She's the best qualified because she was the senator, she was in the White House for eight years," said Bill Clinton.
Another recent Fox News poll has Clinton leading Sanders 53 to 37 in New York. The same poll shows Trump winning in New York with 54 percent over Republican rivals Ohio Gov. John Kasich with 22 percent and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz trailing with 15 percent.
Trump rallied in Rochester Sunday afternoon, calling the political system and Cruz corrupt.
"It's not right. We're supposed to be a democracy," said Trump. "We're supposed to be, 'you vote and the vote means something.'"
Cruz snapped back.
"It's easy to talk about 'making America great again' but the real question is, 'Do you understand the principles and values that make America great in the first place?'" he said.
Meanwhile, Kasich is still holding on, despite the numbers against him.
"Don't be trying to predict how many I'll have cause I'm not gonna try and predict it, but I'll have more than I have right now and we'll be viable," he said.
On Monday, Clinton will make stops on Long Island while Sanders will be touring upstate New York.
Trump and Kasich will be upstate as well. Cruz will be spending his time campaigning in California.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
