Poll: Libertarian Johnson tops Clinton among independents

Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson leads presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton among self-identified independents, a new poll finds.

{mosads}A Fox News survey released Thursday found Clinton leading overall with 39 percent support, followed by Donald Trump at 36 percent and Johnson at 12 percent.

But among independents, Trump leads, at 32 percent, followed by Johnson, at 23, and Clinton, at 22.

It’s the latest sign of early polling strength from Johnson, who many believe is poised for the best showing from a third-party candidate in decades.

The former New Mexico governor has been on a media blitz and urging pollsters to include him in their surveys.

The Presidential Debates Commission requires candidates poll at 15 percent in five polls leading up to the debates to qualify, but many pollsters only survey the two major party candidates.

In polls that have included Johnson recently, he’s landed in the 10 to 12 percent range — well within striking distance of where he needs to be to qualify.

Johnson told The Hill recently that he believes his polling numbers will go up once Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders drops out of the race.

The Fox News survey found Johnson taking 8 percent support from Democrats — better than Trump’s 7 percent support. Trump has similarly made an appeal to Sanders supporters.

Among Republicans, Johnson takes 11 percent, compared to only 6 percent for Clinton. The former secretary of State has talked about reaching out to members of the GOP who say they can never support Trump.

The socially liberal Johnson, who supports gay marriage, abortion rights and legalizing marijuana, does best among young voters, taking 18 percent support among those under the age of 35.

He does poorly among older voters, taking only 4 percent support among those over the age of 65.

The Fox News poll of 1,004 registered voters was conducted between June 5 and June 8 and has a 3 percentage point margin of error.