Volume 82, Issue 7 Web Edition
SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
Look for more
election poll
graphs on page 6
October 12, 2016
BC prefers Hillary
Campus poll shows 3-to-l lead for Clinton
over Donald Trump in presidential raee
By John B, Padgett
Contributor
By a three-to-one margin, Brevard College
prefers Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in
this year’s presidential race, according to a poll
The Clarion conducted this past week.
Many, however, seemed more concerned by
what might happen if their preferred candidate’s
opponent is elected than what their candidate
would bring to the job of president. Only 53
percent of respondents said they thought their
choice was the best candidate for president,
while 63 percent said fear of his or her opponent
was a motivating factor for their choice.
Overall, Clinton was preferred in the poll over
Trump 63 to 21 percent, with 7 percent going for
Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Clinton’s
lead over Trump is even higher in a two-way
race, 70 to 22 percent.
A slim majority of students responding to the
survey picked Clinton, with 26 percent choosing
Trump and 11 percent for Johnson. More than
70 faculty and staff also responded to the poll,
with staff picking Clinton over Trump 68 to
15 percent (7 percent for Johnson) and faculty
choosing Clinton by a commanding 85 percent
to just 13 percent for Trump.
Some who responded to the survey expressed
reservations or outright disdain over the two
nominees for the Democratic and Republican
parties. “Like many others, I wish we had a
viable other candidate other than the two we
have,’’ one person wrote. “This is really an
election to choose between the lesser of the two
bad choices.”
Another person wrote, “I've felt like this elec
tion season has tested my optimism and resolve
as a proud American citizen in ways I never
thought it would. I’m trying to rise above disap
pointment in my fellow man this year.”
Despite the clear disdain many expressed
about their choices for president this year, the
former first lady, U. S. senator and secretary of
state dominated in nearly class and category of
respondents to the poll. Among students, only
freshmen gave Trump an edge, 16 choosing
him versus 11 for Clinton. Sophomores and
juniors each had 12 students choose Clinton,
with five and three in each class picking Trump,
respectively.
Seniors were the most pronounced Clinton
supporters: only four chose Trump, while 23
picked Clinton. Johnson also got a total of 12
student picks, five by seniors, three by fresh
men, and two each in the sophomore and junior
classes.
Men showed a clear preference for Clinton, fa
voring her over Trump 60 to 25 percent overall.
but women overwhelmingly went for Clinton,
with two-thirds choosing her compared to just
17 percent for Trump.
The poll was conducted online from Wednes
day of last week until Monday evening. More
than 140 of the 214 total responses to the poll
occurred on the first two days of polling, prior
to the bombshell video released Friday of Trump
making lewd comments about women on an
“Access Hollywood” bus in 2005.
The Brevard College poll shows a much wider
lead for Clinton than most other national polls,
which for weeks have typically shown Clinton
over Trump by 4-8 points. The margin of error
for the Brevard College poll is plus or minus
6 percent.
See 'Campus poll,' page 6
BC's OVERALL Presidential Choices (includes
third-party candidates)
HILLARY CLINTON
DONALD TRUMP
GARY JOHNSON
JILL STEIN
EVAN MCMULLIN
None of the above /
Write-in candidate
Not sure /
Undecided