Florida's intense — and frequently incendiary — U.S. Senate race continues to be a nip-and-tuck contest, according to an expert and a poll released Tuesday by the University of Northern Florida.
According to the poll, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., edges Republican Gov. Rick Scott 47-46 percent, with 7 percent saying they do not know who they will vote for. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent.
UNF's finding roughly mirror those of USA Today/Suffolk University, in which Nelson edges Scott 45-43 percent.
"The difference on Nov. 6 will be fewer than 2,000 votes," Matt Walsh, publisher of the Florida Business Observer and the Jacksonville Daily Record, told Newsmax.
Walsh, a seasoned observer of the Sunshine State political scene, said the Senate contest "will come down to how many Hispanics — mostly of Cuban descent from South Florida – and how many Puerto Ricans in Orlando Scott can win. They will have to offset the blacks that will vote straight Dem for [gubernatorial nominee Andrew] Gillum and Nelson."
Walsh also noted the race "will hinge on whether Scott can carry Pinellas (Clearwater-St. Petersburg) and either HIllsborough or Orange counties. He barely won all three in the past gubernatorial race [in which he was narrowly re-elected over Republican-turned-Democratic former Gov. Charlie Crist]. But Hillsborough and Orange are decidedly blue now."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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