By Phillip Stucky
Presumptive presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both received low marks on how voters perceive them as honest and admirable candidates, according to a Pew Research national poll published Thursday.
Pew polled 4,602 likely voters, and only 18 percent rated Trump as “someone they admire” — Clinton earned only 10 percent. When asked which candidate they viewed as “honest,” only 19 percent said that Trump was honest, compared to 13 percent agreeing Clinton was honest. Fifty-fiver percent of voters said Trump fit the description of “extreme,” and 19 percent defined Clinton the same.
Nineteen percent of voters think that Trump can “unite the country,” while only 17 percent said they thought Clinton could do the same. Clinton scored better on the “well-informed” trait, 36 percent compared to Trump’s 13 percent.
Multiple polls published Thursday showed an overall negative perception of the general election. The Associated Press released a poll that revealed 81 percent of Americans fear one or both of the major party candidates, while 25 percent fear both.
CBS published an additional poll Thursday. Sixty-seven percent of voters rated Clinton as “not honest or trustworthy,” and 62 percent of voters said Trump fit the definition.
Pew surveyed 4,602 likely voters in a combined internet and telephone survey. The survey was conducted from June 7 to July.