Quinnipiac: GOP Senators Holding Leads in Key Swing States

Republican incumbent senators are holding solid leads over their Democratic challengers in the swing states of Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania, including former GOP presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, who has a double-digit lead over his Democratic rivals despite launching a last-minute candidacy, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

In Senate matchups:

• Florida: Rubio over Rep. Patrick Murphy 50 - 37 percent; and over Rep. Alan Grayson, 50 - 38 percent;
• Ohio: Sen. Rob Portman over former Gov. Ted Strickland, 47 - 40 percent;
• Pennsylvania: Sen. Pat Toomey over Democrat Katie McGinty 49 - 39 percent.

"Democrats made fun of Sen. Marco Rubio when he opted for a last-minute re-election bid in Florida, but he may be on the way to a last laugh, having quickly opened double-digit leads over both Democratic challengers,"  said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll.

"Many talking heads have suggested that with Donald Trump at the top of the GOP ticket, Republican Senate candidates might suffer," Brown continued. "But at least in these three key states, the Republican Senate candidates are running ahead of Trump and don't seem to be hurt by their shared party label."

The states also show President Barack Obama with negative job approval ratings, down from a June 22 Quinnipiac University Swing State poll:

• 44 - 53 percent in Florida, down from a 54 - 42 percent approval rating;
• 47 - 50 percent in Ohio, virtually unchanged from his 48 - 50 percent score last month;
• 45 - 53 percent in Pennsylvania, down from his 51 - 47 percent approval in June.

The poll, conducted from June 30-July 11, surveyed 1,015 Florida voters, with a margin of error of   3.1 percentage points; 955 Ohio voters with a margin of error of  3.2 percentage points; 982 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of  3.1 percentage points.

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• Ohio's Gov. Kasich Confident Portman Will Hold GOP Senate Seat