Poll: Clinton Leading Sanders By 12 Points Ahead Of New York Primary
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Hillary Clinton is leading rival Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., ahead of next week's New York primary, according to a new poll.
The latest survey from Monmouth University suggests the former secretary of state has 51 percent of the state, while Sanders is lagging behind at 39 percent. Just eight days before the New York primary, 9 percent of likely Democratic voters say they're still undecided.
The poll found the candidates are basically tied among non-Hispanic white voters, with Clinton at 46 percent and Sanders taking 48 percent.
However, Clinton holds a significant lead among minority voters, including African-Americans and Latinos. The poll shows she has 62 percent of minority voters, compared to a slim 22 percent for Sanders.
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Clinton represented the state of New York for eight years in the Senate and the poll showed high approval ratings from her former constituents with 70 percent of those surveyed saying she did an "excellent" or "good" job as senator. Twenty percent said she did an "only fair" job, and 7 percent rated her performance as "poor."
And is Clinton a "real" New Yorker? More than a third (35 percent) of voters do not consider her a New Yorker, while 32 percent said "somewhat," and 29 percent say they definitely view her as a New Yorker.
As for Sanders, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, 28 percent said they view him as a New Yorker, 30 percent said "somewhat," and 33 percent said they do not view him as a New Yorker.
The latest numbers are on track with other recent polls that show Clinton in the lead by low or mid-double digits. A CBS News Battleground Tracker poll released last week found Clinton leading by 10 points, 53 percent to 43 percent.
The poll surveyed 302 likely Democratic primary voters in New York from April 8-10, and has a margin of error of +/- 5.6 percentage points.
During a campaign stop in Port Washington on Monday, Clinton discussed her approach towards gun control with voters and victims.
Among the women who shared heartbreaking stories was the daughter of the principal killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
"Within seconds her and the school psychologist were dead," Erica Lafferty Smegielski recalled.
She said she supports Clinton's efforts to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
"What stands in the way is the most powerful lobby in Washington," Clinton said.
Clinton accused Bernie Sanders of too often siding with that lobby. The message resonated with Arlette Landers.
"Such an incredible, brave, group of women to talk about their experiences," she said.
Landers said Clinton's stance on gun control could be enough to get her vote.
"To be honest with you I was a little bit indecisive between her and Bernie, and the approach she has toward gun control really is making me lean a lot more toward her than I did before," she said.
