MIDTOWN — Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are in a dead heat when it comes to who will win November's presidential elections, according to a new national poll from Quinnipiac University.
But likely voters, by a margin of 41 percent to 32 percent, think Clinton will win tonight's first debate.
"Given that so many people responded that they would be watching you can clearly draw the conclusion that they are searching for a candidate," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
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And there will be lots of eyes on tonight's debate. Upwards of 100 million people are expected to watch tonight, according to some projections. The poll also found that 84 percent of likely voters plan to watch tonight's 9 p.m. debate at Hofstra University on Long Island.
"When that many people say they are going to watch it's clear they are searching for something. Whether it's a fist fight or entertainment or they are searching to make a real choice remains to be seen," Malloy said.
The poll from Quinnipiac University found that the race between Trump and Clinton is a "virtual dead heat" with 44 percent of likely voters saying they will cast a ballot for Clinton while 43 percent plan to vote for Trump.
Libertarian candidates Gary Johnson and William Weld received 8 percent of likely voters. Green Party candidates Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka received 2 percent of the vote.
Those third party Libertarian and Green party votes hurt Clinton more than Trump, Malloy said.
In a four way race, Clinton leads Trump among women by 47 to 42 percent while Trump is leading 44 to 40 percent among men. Trump is leading among white voters by 50 to 36 percent and non-white voters back Clinton by 66 percent to 24 percent.
"Are there two people more different than Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton," Malloy said.
The poll also found that likely voters say they are "more motivated than usual" to vote by a margin of 55 percent to 11 percent. That's why tonight's debate is so important.
"It's going to be an unprecedented audience. Theres no question in a lot of ways the campaign may just be beginning," Malloy said.
