Frankln & Marshall poll finds 7-point Clinton lead in Pa.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the American Legion's 98th Annual Convention at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the American Legion's 98th Annual Convention at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati

A new Franklin & Marshall College poll shows Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, though by a narrower margin than in previous surveys.

The poll shows Clinton 7 points ahead of Trump among likely voters, 47 to 40 percent.

That’s less than the double-digit margin in some polls, including the 11-point lead Clinton held in the last Franklin & Marshall survey, just after the conventions in July.

Poll director Terry Madonna said recent stories about Clinton’s email and the alleged influence of the Clinton Foundation in the state department have hurt her.

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“Clinton has had a very difficult two weeks,” Madonna said. “Conversely, Trump has not been very controversial. He’s not been as provocative as he can be.”

Madonna said Clinton is buoyed by the Democrats’ edge in voter registration and Pennsylvania’s history of going the Democrats’ way in presidential elections.

The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the state was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

The poll also found Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Katie McGinty of Pennsylvania ahead of Republican incumbent Pat Toomey by 5 points, 43 to 38 percent.

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