New Battleground Poll Indicates Why Clinton Engaged Trump on Climate Change at Debate

(Washington, D.C. – September 29, 2016) A new battleground poll from Global Strategy Group demonstrates why Hillary Clinton went on the offensive on climate change and clean energy during this week’s debate, and why Donald Trump has been scrambling to cover his past denials of climate science.  

Self-identified independents in eight highly competitive states support climate action positions by 21 points (53 percent to 32 percent). Young voters are particularly likely to want action on the climate, with voters under 45 siding with climate action by 26 points (62 percent to 36 percent). College-educated women, a group being strongly contested by the two candidates, side with pro-climate arguments by a larger margin (68 percent to 25 percent) than almost any other non-partisan demographic.

“It’s clear that climate action is a winning argument in the swing states,” said Elizabeth Thompson, president of EDF Action. “That’s why you saw Secretary Clinton come out firing on this issue in the debate – and why you now see Donald Trump and Governor Pence scrambling to cover Trump’s repeated denials of climate science.”

Overall, Clinton leads Trump by 4 points across the states polled (Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia). After voters are made aware of Trump’s positions on climate change and energy policy, the lead expands by an additional 5 points. Trump’s anti-environment stances drive undecideds to shift to the Democratic nominee.

Other highlights: 

• Trump’s positions on abolishing the EPA, refusing to act on climate change, and loyalty to “sweet, beautiful oil” are a real vulnerability. These positions are virtually disqualifying for younger voters and college-educated women, and are very damaging with independent voters as well.
• Trump’s support for abolishing the EPA, in particular, is a serious issue to voters, with 45 percent saying it raises major doubts about voting for him, including 40 percent of independents, 57 percent of voters under 45, and 53 percent of college-educated women.
• Trump’s insistence that climate change is a “hoax” created by the Chinese is similarly problematic – raising major doubts with 42 percent of voters overall, 52 percent of those under 45, and 49 percent of women with a college degree.

You can find the poll here.

About the poll: Global Strategy Group conducted a live telephone survey of 800 likely November 2016 voters in eight swing states, from September 15th to 19th, 2016. The survey included 100 interviews in each: Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The results of this survey have a margin of error of +/-3.5%. Care has been taken to ensure the geographic and demographic divisions of the expected electorate are properly represented based on historical turnout. The poll was sponsored by EDF Action.