UK comms and management professionals sided with their US counterparts, who also predicted a resounding victory for the Democrat candidate.
The survey by research firm Question and Retain posed the question to PR pros: Clinton vs Trump - what’s your prediction. A majority (58 per cent) said they thought Hillary Clinton would prevail. However, nearly a third (29 per cent) suggested the outcome was too close to call:
| 58 per cent | It will be Clinton |
| 11 per cent | It will be Trump |
| 29 per cent | It's too close to call |
| 2 per cent | I have no opinion |
The Brexit effect
When asked to comment, one respondent cited Brexit as the reason he thinks Trump will win: "Because I thought common sense would prevail in the Brexit vote and it turned out that petty grievances and xenophobia prevailed," he said. "My common sense tells me it will be Clinton, [but] my experience tells me the disgruntled will come out in full force to vote Trump, unfortunately. I really hope I'm wrong!"
One Clinton backer admitted their choice was "more in hope than confidence. Trump's policies of protectionism and making the US an unreliable NATO ally would be massively destabilising for the entire world. He's a conman, a misogynist and somewhat lacking in tact. And do you want someone with their finger on the trigger of nuclear missiles whose catchphrase is 'You're fired'?"
Of the 29 per cent of those question who remained on the fence, one commented: "I was listening to a news quiz last week - one panelist described it as being like choosing between Bridlington and Aleppo as a holiday destination. Bridlington is pretty horrendous and uninspired. But it's not Aleppo. Some people feel it's so bad in the US that Aleppo is at least exciting, a risk worth taking for change. But no one knows how many. Maybe it's like Cameron/Miliband, where the challenger's chances are overrated. But worryingly, it's Brexit Two and people will do anything for a change, however irrational."
