House Speaker Paul Ryan recently called to deny Hillary Clinton access to intelligence briefings, which are usually given to each party's chosen candidates, according to Real Clear Politics. His request was denied, and according to a new Rasmussen poll, voters are questioning Ryan's motives in the first place.
Of likely voters:
- 49 percent thought Ryan was playing politics rather than trying to protect classified information from leaking
- 38 percent thought he was genuine
- 14 percent are unsure.
A majority of Democrats thought Ryan's motives were purely political, only 32 percent of Republicans felt the same.
- 57 percent of Republicans believe Ryan was trying to protect government secrets
- 18 percent of Democrats agree.
- 53-30, women largely thought Ryan was playing politics; men are more closely divided.
Ryan's attempt may have backfired, but Rasmussen shows his party's candidate is closing in on Clinton — presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump now leads Clinton in trustworthiness to handle national security secrets, 43 percent to 38 percent, while 15 percent rate them equally.
However, both candidates are trusted by members of their party:
- 73 percent of Democrats trust Clinton
- 76 percent of Republicans trust Trump
- 39 percent of unaffiliated voters trust Trump more
- 26 percent of unaffiliated voters trust Clinton more
- A quarter of unaffiliated voters rate them the same.
"It's a binary choice," Ryan said at a CNN town hall last Tuesday. "It is either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton — you don't get a third option. It's one or the other and I know where I want to go."
Rasmussen polled 1,000 likely voters from July 14 to 17, online and by telephone, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
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