Although Clinton has lost significant ground over the past two months (21 percentage points since July), she still leads the field of Democrats with 42 percent, while independent Senator Bernie Sanders won 10 point in two months and is second with 24 percent of support. Vice President Biden, who is deciding whether to run, is third with 21 percent.
Clinton's fall is more dramatic among women (from 71 percent in July to 42 percent now). A majority of Americans said they disapprove of the way Clinton has handled questions about her private e-mail account she chose to use as secretary of state, and 54 percent said she has tried to cover up facts. A majority of Democrats (55 percent) said they approve of how she has handled the controversy.
Meanwhile, billionaire Trump has surged to the top of the Republican field, with 33 percent support, 13 points ahead of the retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, with 20 percent support.
According to the poll, in a potential head-to-head match-up, Clinton led Trump by 3 points among registered voters, 46 percent to 43 percent. Among all adults, she led by 12 points, 51 percent to 39 percent.
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