Florida Chamber Poll Shows Scott, Rubio Leading

Republican Rick Scott leads Democrat Alex Sink 46 percent to 42 percent in the race for Florida governor, reflecting a Republican-favoring mood in the Sunshine State, says Florida Chamber of Commerce official Marian Johnson.

The tally emerged from a Public Opinion Strategies poll the Chamber released today, a survey that also showed Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio with 7-point lead over Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running as an independent, and a 24-point lead over Democrat Kendrick Meek.

“The mood among Florida’s electorate is currently favoring Republican candidates,” said Johnson, senior vice president of the Chamber’s political operations. “Not only are Republican candidates polling higher than Democratic candidates, polling data reveals stronger interest and motivation to vote in the upcoming general election leans with Republican voters — an advantage for Republican candidates.”

The poll of 800 likely voters, conducted on Sept. 27-30, found these tallies in other races:

• Attorney general: Republican Pam Bondi leading Democrat Dan Gelber, 38 percent to 26 percent
• Chief financial officer: Republican Jeff Atwater leading Democrat Loranne Ausley 38 to 24 percent
• Agriculture commissioner: Republican Adam Putnam leading Democrat Scott Maddox, 36 to 28 percent.

With four weeks remaining until the Nov. 2 vote, the poll also gauged voters’ interest in the elections:

• Republicans: 60 percent of those registered in the GOP rated their interest a 10 on a 1-10 scale
• Democrats: 49 percent also rated their interest a 10.

“The candidates have four weeks left to ensure voters hear their messages,” Johnson said. “In a campaign, four weeks is a lifetime, and I fully expect we will see candidate leads fluctuate.”