The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll showed that Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is the woman to beat in the November 2016 US presidential election, posting higher numbers than all Republican bets—except one: Ben Carson.
Released on Tuesday, the poll showed that Clinton and Carson each would garner 47 percent of the vote if the election were held today. Donald Trump, the Republican on-and-off frontrunner, and all other Republican candidates would lose to Clinton, according to the poll.
If it's Clinton versus Trump, Clinton would have 47 percent of the vote to Trump's 42 percent.
If it's Clinton versus Marco Rubio, Clinton would have 47 percent versus Rubio's 44 percent.
If it's Clinton versus Jeb Bush, Clinton would have 47 percent versus Bush's 43 percent.
What gives Carson the extra boost among the Republican bets is his higher favourability among independent voters, NBC News reported. In this sector, Carson has the highest favourability score of 47 percent if pitted against Clinton, who registers a 37 percent score.
The poll was conducted Oct. 25-29 among 847 registered voters and has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.4 percentage points.
Meanwhile, a Reuters/Ipsos nationwide poll on the Republican presidential candidates also released on Tuesday showed that Trump is the contender most trusted by GOP voters in managing the economy, dealing with foreign leaders and serving as commander in chief.
Trump was favoured by 31 percent of Republicans in an online survey conducted Oct. 28 to Nov. 2 by Reuters/Ipsos. Carson placed second with 18 percent. Rubio and Bush tied for third place with 10 percent each.
Also on Tuesday, Trump intensified his attack on Carson, saying the retired neurosurgeon "can't do the job," according to Fox News.
Trump went on the offensive after a second poll showed Carson grabbing the lead in the Republican race nationally. The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed Carson leading Trump, 29-23 percent, among GOP primary voters.
"I like Ben, but Ben can't do the job, I mean there's no question about it," Trump said. "He's not going to be able to negotiate with China. It's not his thing ... It's not in his wheelhouse, he's never done it before, and I don't think it's, you know, meant for him."
Two recent national polls have shown Carson leading Trump, but the latter continues to lead—by double digits—in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire.
