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New poll reveals huge support for Donald Trump despite video of obscene sexual comments about women

Hillary Clinton leading by four points in first poll since sexism scandal

Harriet Agerholm
Sunday 09 October 2016 14:07 EDT
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Donald Trump caught on tape talking about sexually assaulting women: "Grab 'em by the pussy"

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Only one in eight Republicans say they think Donald Trump should have to end his presidential campaign after a video of him bragging about groping women surfaced.

The first poll since the tape was published showed just 12 per cent of Republicans and 13 per cent of female Republicans agree Trump should end his political campaign.

The survey comes amid mounting pressure for the billionaire to withdraw from the race.

Prominent Republican figures – including former presidential nominee John McCain and previous governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger have publicly withdrawn their support for Mr Trump since the tape was revealed.

Yet according to the Politico/MorningConsult poll, GOP voters still largely want the party to give its backing to the current candidate. Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of those surveyed say officials should stand by him. Thirteen per cent think the party's politicians should rescind their endorsements.

The survey also shows Hillary Clinton ahead, with 42 per cent of the vote compared to Trump’s 38.

Libertarian Gary Johnson has eight per cent of the vote and Green Party's Jill Stein is on three per cent.

The poll included people from across the political spectrum and was carried out on Saturday, the day after the video was revealed by The Washington Post. By that time, 47 per cent of people said they had already heard "a lot" about the video.

Only nine per cent of people asked said they had not heard anything about it at all.

Although overall, 74 per cent of all voters said they had a negative reaction to the video, only 22 per cent of Republicans said that they had a "very negative" impression of the video. Ten per cent of Republican voters said the video gave them a positive feeling.

More Donald Trump tapes surface with crude sex remarks

Morning Consult surveyed 1,549 registered voters including 1,390 people considered likely to vote.

Both parties parties said they thought it would take some time for the implications of the video to cement into the minds of the electorate. The second presidential debate on Sunday night provides an opportunity for the latest revelations about Mr Trump to sink in.

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