Early exit poll: Clinton tops Trump in ground game

The early exit poll found that Clinton, the Democratic nominee, is keeping up with President Obama’s highly praised ground operation from his first presidential run in 2008.

 

In that election cycle, 13 percent of voters said they heard from Obama’s campaign while only 6 percent heard from GOP nominee John McCain’s, according to the National Election Pool.

 

Clinton’s campaign specifically edged out Trump’s when it came to contacting voters in urban areas, 26 to 7 percent; suburban areas, 14 to 8 percent; and rural areas, 11 to 8 percent.

In regards to age breakdown, Clinton reached out most to voters between the ages of 18 and 34. She topped her GOP rival’s contact among those voters 28 percent to 9 percent, while Trump kept pace with Clinton when contacting voters age 65 and older. 

The former secretary of State has made a concerted play for millennial voters, especially those loyal to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Democratic primaries. Recent polls, however, show these young voters flocking more to Clinton than to Trump.

In the demographic breakdown, Clinton’s campaign also dominated in contacting minority voters: 37 percent of black voters heard from her campaign compared with 3 percent who were contacted by Trump’s. 

Among Hispanic voters, the Democratic nominee’s campaign contacted 31 percent, while Trump’s campaign reached out to 9 percent. 

Clinton also holds a small edge in contact with white voters, 11 percent to 8 percent.

The real estate mogul sought to make inroads with minority voters, specifically African-Americans and Hispanics, but Clinton has maintained a consistent lead in polling of those demographics.