Clinton regains ground in new elections poll

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton led Republican Donald Trump by 13.3 points in a new poll published over the weekend, regaining ground lost following the Orlando massacre.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted between June 20-24 showed the Democrat winning 46.6 percent of likely US voters, with Trump trailing her at 33.3%. Meanwhile 20.1% said they did not back either candidate.

A Reuters poll conducted after the attack showed Clinton taking a slight hit to her numbers, narrowing her lead to 10.1% from a previous 14.3%.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Trump accused President Barack Obama of putting US enemies ahead of Americans. Trump also has suggested that Obama himself might sympathize with radical elements.

Democrats criticized Trump and some Republicans tried to distance themselves from his remarks. Clinton quickly challenged Republicans to either “stand up to their presumptive nominee” or “stand by his accusation about our president.”

Bernie Sanders said Friday he would vote for Hillary Clinton for president, stopping short of a full endorsement of his Democratic presidential rival more than a week after the final primary contests.

The Vermont senator said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that he was “pretty good at arithmetic” and understood that Clinton had won more pledged delegates than he had during their lengthy primary.

Asked if he would vote for the former secretary of state, Sanders replied, “Yes,” adding: “I will do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump.”

But Sanders has yet to call on his supporters to vote for Clinton and has not said whether he would campaign on her behalf. His latest comments seemed more aimed at acknowledging the inevitable while retaining leverage heading into July’s convention.

Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, did surprisingly well during primary season by winning over younger voters, in particular with his pledges to overhaul what he calls a tainted political and economic system and work to end income inequality in America.

The challenge for Clinton will be luring those Democrats and independents who backed Sanders in the primaries.

Clinton has expressed confidence that come November she will be able to win over those voters.

Meanwhile Trump hailed Britain’s vote to leave the EU Friday as “fantastic” on a trip to Scotland, saying the campaign had parallels with his own mission to become the president of the United States.

“I think it’s a great thing. I think it’s a fantastic thing,” he told reporters after stepping off a helicopter with the word “Trump” emblazoned on its side at the golf resort he owns in southwest Scotland.

People want to take their country back, they want independence,” Trump said, explaining that unhappiness with immigrants “flowing” across borders was the common cause for discontent in Britain and the US.

“There were great similarities with what happened here and my campaign,” he said.