Donald Trump leads Hillary Clinton in new national poll

Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken a lead albeit a small one and within margin of error over her Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in a new national poll, the first after last week's Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Trump (48 per cent) leads Clinton (45 per cent) by three per cent in a two-way match up, CNN/ORC said.

In a four-way contest with two other presidential candidates from minor parties, Trump is leading Clinton by five percentage points.

Post conventions, presidential candidates do get a major jump in their popularity ratings.

Democratic National Convention begins in Philadelphia tomorrow, which would formally nominate Clinton as party's presidential nominee.
In RealClearPolitics.Com, which keeps track of all major polls, in an average of recent major national polls, Clinton leads Trump by 1.9 per cent.

Clinton's lead over Trump has been reducing every passing week.

CNN/ORC said after the Cleveland Convention, Trump has received major jump in support from independents.

Cleveland also helped Trump make strides in his personal image, the poll said.

A majority (52 per cent) now say Trump is running for president for the good of the country rather than personal gain, just 44 per cent say the same about Clinton.