Clinton regains double-digit lead over Trump in new poll

A new poll once again gives Hillary Clinton a double-digit lead over Donald Trump in a likely general election contest between the two, after weeks in which the presumptive Republican nominee appeared to have closed the gap entirely.

A Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,421 people on Friday showed 46 percent of voters planned to support Clinton, while 35% said they would back Trump in a presidential vote. Nineteen percent said they would not vote for either candidate.

Polls published in mid-May had shown the two candidates to be virtually tied among registered voters. One Fox News poll even had Trump leading the likely Democratic nominee by 3 points.

The renewed gap between the candidates comes as Clinton has stepped up her attacks on Trump, questioning his temperament, stability and responsibility. Trump, meanwhile, has battled growing criticism over his business dealings — particularly Trump University — as well as his supporters’ often-violent behavior, including anti-Semitic rhetoric by certain fans.

In recent days, Clinton has criticized Trump over his business practices, his resistance to disclose which charities received money he raised during a January fundraiser for veterans’ causes, and the now-defunct Trump University. On Wednesday she called him a “fraud” and said the real estate mogul had taken advantage of vulnerable Americans.

Trump has pushed back. On the education company, he has maintained that customers were overwhelmingly satisfied with the offerings.

He accused Clinton of misrepresenting his views on foreign policy and called her “Lyin’, Crooked Hillary.” Trump had previously dubbed Texas Senator Ted Cruz as “Lyin’ Ted.” He has taken to calling Clinton “crooked” in recent weeks.

He added: “My temperament is so much tougher, so much better than hers.”

Clinton is just 70 delegates shy of clinching the Democratic nomination, now leading rival Bernie Sanders by 268 pledged delegates, and her advantage grows with the superdelegates, party officials who can back any candidate.

She has kept the heat on Trump, saying Friday “we are trying to elect a president, not a dictator.”

Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in San Bernardino, California, Friday night, where she continued to question her likely Republican opponent’s qualifications, she said: “At some point you have to ask yourself: Is this nothing but a political stunt? Calling Americans terrible names?”

Looking toward the general election, Clinton made her goals very clear: “I am determined that I am going to expose Donald Trump’s lack of qualifications to be the president of the United States and the commander in chief.”

Clinton also again hit Trump for the controversy surrounding his now-defunct Trump University, a real estate education program that some participants said made fraudulent promises, calling it “a total con job.”

Trump University is the target of two lawsuits in San Diego and one in New York that accuse the business of fleecing students with unfulfilled promises to teach secrets of success in real estate. Trump has maintained that customers were overwhelmingly satisfied with the offerings.

During a rally earlier Friday in Westminster, California, Clinton attacked Trump for saying the federal judge presiding over one of the cases has a conflict of interest because he is “of Mexican heritage.”

“The judge is doing his job. That’s what he got appointed to do,” Clinton said “And Donald Trump wants to change the subject like he does all the time. So instead of facing up to the facts that are coming out … he is attacking a distinguished jurist.”

Trump’s comments one the judge have brought overwhelming disapproval from politicians and lawyers in his own Republican Party. On Friday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said of the statements about the judge: “It’s reasoning I don’t relate to, I completely disagree with the thinking behind that.”

And conservative legal scholars say Trump’s statements reinforce their worries that he seems to think he can do whatever he wants and disregard rules and conventions that constrain other political candidates.

Trump has secured the begrudging endorsement of key Republican figures in recent weeks, including that of initially-reluctant House Speaker Paul Ryan, as leaders have fallen in line with the apparent wishes of party voters.

Still, many who have pledged their backing aren’t wholly satisfied with his temperament, policies or readiness for the White House.

Many Republican leaders across the country continue to have deep reservations about Trump’s devotion to GOP principles.

Trump has repeatedly promised not to touch expensive entitlement programs such Medicare and Social Security, a position in direct conflict with Ryan.

The two also break on immigration. Trump wants to deport more than 11 million immigrants in the country illegally in addition to imposing a temporary ban on Muslims. Ryan opposes both policies.

Some GOP leaders have declared they won’t support Trump, including 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who had Ryan as his running mate. Earlier in the week, Romney signaled support for a possible third-party candidate instead.