DuBUQUE IA – If you as an Illinoisan are not happy with the presidential choices on the November ballot, you're not alone, a poll by DuBuque's Loras College found last week. Nearly six out of 10 Illinois voters are dissatisfied with the choices of Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump, Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Partier Jill Stein.
Hillary Clinton is viewed more favorably than Donald Trump in Illinois, with Clinton at a -6 favorability rating compared to Donald Trump's -40 rating.
“Many voters are thinking of this election in almost defensive terms—of which outcome they most want to avoid,” Christopher Budzisz, Ph.D., associate professor of politics and director of the Loras College Poll said. "Fear and anxiety can be great motivators in electoral politics, and given the unfavorable ratings of both candidates this year, voting against someone may be an easier sell to voters than voting for someone. It remains to be seen if such appeals to fear and anxiety will impact voter turnout.”
And with the higher favorability ratings, the former secretary of state maintains a double-digit lead over the New York businessman in Illinois:
| Hillary Clinton | 43 percent |
| Donald Trump | 30 percent |
| Gary Johnson | 8 percent |
| Jill Stein | 3 percent |
| Unsure | 14 percent |
“While the last couple of weeks have been rocky ones for Hillary Clinton, and she has seen her lead evaporate in several swing states, right now Illinois remains firmly in her column,” Budzisz said. “Unlike some of its neighboring states, Illinois has been dependably voting for the Democratic nominee for president since 1992. While Democrats have been successful at the top of the ticket in presidential elections, Republicans have seen success statewide in Gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections, as evidenced by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Senator Kirk.”
In a two-way matchup of just Clinton and Trump, Clinton holds a 14-point lead, 47 percent to 33 percent.
Looking at the difference between the two and the four-way ballot test provides a way to gauge potential third party impact, the report says. While the bulk of the support for Johnson and Stein in the four-way ballot race comes from those who indicated they were supporting someone else in the two-way ballot question, 6 percent of Trump supporters in the two-way ballot race switch to Johnson in the four-way race, while 4 percent of Clinton supporters in the two-way turn to Johnson in the four-way race. Stein draws below two percent from either Clinton or Trump.
“One potential positive bit of news for Trump in Illinois is that there are still quite a few undecideds. That, coupled with the possibility of attracting some of those voters who now indicate they are likely to vote for a third party candidate, means there is ground that Trump can make up. It may be an uphill climb, however, given his unfavorable ratings. As Election Day nears, some who are currently thinking about voting for a third party candidate may find themselves grudgingly voting for one of the major party candidates,” Budzisz said.
Six hundred likely voters were polled on land lines and cell phones from throughout the state.
More about the Loran College Poll HERE.
