Hillary Clinton Gains Double-Digit Lead Over Donald Trump in Key Battleground States

— -- Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has built up a significant lead in several crucial battleground states, according to new NBC/WSJ/Marist polling released today.

Clinton has generated double-digit margins in Virginia and Colorado with 13-point and 14-point advantages over Trump, respectively.

The poll also showed Clinton with leads over Trump in Florida and North Carolina. In the Sunshine State, Clinton has a 5-point edge among registered voters. In North Carolina, Clinton enjoys a 9-point advantage.

Losses in these states could be devastating for Trump. The Republican nominee’s clearest path to the White House requires wins in Ohio and Florida, where Hillary Clinton has a slight lead, as well as North Carolina and Pennsylvania, where he trails by a broad nine percentage points.

Trump has been plagued by controversy since his party’s convention three weeks ago, clashing with the father of a fallen Muslim soldier, refusing to endorse House Speaker Paul Ryan and, most recently, calling President Obama the “founder of ISIS,” which he later described as “sarcasm.”

Clinton is scheduled to campaign in North Carolina next week, while Trump turns his attention to Connecticut, a deep-blue state, and Ohio.

Earlier in the week, NBC/WSJ/Marist showed Clinton with an edge over Trump in Pennsylvania. In Iowa and Ohio, Clinton and Trump remain in a statistical dead heat.

Colorado (registered voters): Clinton 46, Trump 32