Clinton still ahead of Trump in swing-state Virginia

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton remains ahead of Republican Donald Trump in swing-state Virginia, according to a S.C.-based poll released Wednesday.

But Clinton’s 5-point lead over Trump has shrank since earlier this month. In the interim, the FBI said it was launching another investigation into the former secretary of state’s use of a private email server.

“With several negative ‘October surprises’ coming out and affecting both candidates, we have seen a tightening of the race in national polls,” said Winthrop Poll director Scott Huffmon. “However, while Clinton’s lead in Virginia has shrunk from its highest point, she still leads Donald Trump in the Commonwealth.”

Clinton received support from 44 percent of the 712 likely Virginia voters surveyed. Thirty-nine percent supported business mogul Trump, according to the Winthrop Poll released Wednesday.

Third-party candidates have a combined 9 percent of Virginians’ support. Another 4 percent of those were not sure and 3 percent refused to answer.

The Virginia voters were surveyed from Oct. 23-30. The poll has a 3.6 percentage-point margin of error.

Clinton’s vice presidential running mate is U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia. His addition to the Democrat ticket was intended, at least in part, to ensure that swing-state Virginia went Democratic.

Clinton was up as much as 15 points in Virginia polls earlier this month. That was in the wake of Trump using crude language when telling former “Access Hollywood” co-host Billy Bush that he tried to seduce Nancy O’Dell, a Clemson University graduate and Miss S.C. 1987.