TRUMP GAINS ON HILLARY – AT 10:31 A.M. ET:  This poll creeping isn't doing Hillary any good, but it can easily be misinterpreted.  From The Hill:

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton’s lead over likely general election rival Donald Trump has narrowed to just 3 points in a new poll.

Clinton leads the presumptive Republican nominee, 46 to 43 percent, in the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released early Sunday, within the survey's margin of error.

In a similar poll in April, Clinton held an 11-point lead over the businessman, 50 to 39 percent.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, however, would beat Trump 15 points in a hypothetical match-up, 54 to 39 percent, according to the new poll.

Trump and Clinton are both burdened with high unfavorable ratings in the latest poll. Fifty eight percent view Trump unfavorably while 54 percent have a negative opinion of Clinton.

Pollsters also found that almost half of voters, 47 percent, would consider a third-party candidate if Clinton and Trump face off as the major parties’ nominees in the fall.

COMMENT:  The number that will be looked at carefully in that poll is the one showing Bernie beating Donald by 15 points.  But remember, that was Hillary's lead over Donald only a few months ago.  The focus has been on Hillary as the presumptive nominee, and in that role she carries much baggage.  Sanders has not been vetted in any way.  His views have not been given wide examination.  Should that happen, his numbers would fall, for this is not a socialist country.

What's so sad here is the dislike of the two major candidates, Trump and Clinton.  The fact that almost half the voters would consider a third-party candidate is telling, and an indication that a third-party race, if carefully run, could have a profound impact, including throwing the election to the House of Representatives if the third party takes three or four states.

May 22,  2016