Presidential races

Virginia poll shows Clinton with 7-point lead

Hillary Clinton has a 7-point lead over Donald Trump in Virginia, according to a survey released Monday by the Wason Center at Christopher Newport University.

{mosads}Clinton is favored by 42 percent of likely voters, while Trump is backed by 35 percent in the swing state. Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson is backed by 12 percent of likely Virginia voters and Green Party nominee Jill Stein is supported by 1 percent.

Clinton’s lead over her Republican rival increased slightly since a poll conducted in late September, before the first presidential debate of the cycle.

Clinton has increased her support among young voters ages 18-34, from 34 percent in late September to 42 percent in the most recent poll. Both Trump and Johnson have the support of 24 percent of voters ages 18 to 34.

The Democratic nominee also has an advantage over Trump among independent voters, 34 to 28 percent.

Trump leads Clinton among white voters, however, 44 percent to 32 percent, and Clinton has an advantage among black voters, 74 percent to 7 percent.

Clinton has a small advantage among college-educated voters, 39 percent to 37 percent, but trails her Republican rival among voters without a college degree, 55 percent to 24 percent.

Trump is backed by 73 percent of Republicans, according to the poll, with 8 percent supporting the former secretary of State. Clinton has the support of 88 percent of Democrats; only 2 percent are supporting the real estate tycoon.

The poll was conducted from Sept. 27 to 30 among 892 likely Virginia voters. The margin of error is 3.7 percent.

According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls, Clinton has a 7-point lead over her Republican rival, 44 percent to 37 percent.