Scott hits a new low

Rick Scott has hit a new low in PPP's Florida polling with only 26% of voters now approving of his job performance to 58% who disapprove. His previous worst numbers had come in June when he had a 33% approval rating with 59% unhappy with his performance. Scott's numbers with Democrats are pretty much unchanged compared to then and his standing with independents has gotten a little better.  What's really caused the bottom to drop out for him is that even Republicans are starting to really sour on his leadership. In June Scott had a 63/30 approval spread with them. That's now dropped all the way down to 46/31.

Scott is the most unpopular Governor in the country in PPP's polling.

Scott would lose a hypothetical rematch with Alex Sink 53-37. 21% of Republicans say they'd choose Sink before they would vote for Scott again, and she has a 48-36 advantage with independent voters as well.

Scott would have even more trouble though if Charlie Crist decided to change parties and challenge him. Crist, running as a Democrat, would crush Scott 55-32.  In a hypothetical head to head Crist gets 25% of the Republican vote and wins independents by a 52-32 margin.

Crist remains the most popular politician in the state with 48% of voters holding a favorable opinion of him to just 33% with a negative one. Those are better numbers than Barack Obama, Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio, or Rick Scott has in Florida. Crist is strongest with Democrats at 57/23, followed by independents at 45/36, and still has a surprising amount of popularity left over with Republicans at 38/44. Meanwhile voters think he should enter the Democratic fold, with 39% supporting that party switch and only 26% opposed.  Democratic voters are particularly ready to welcome Crist into the wings with 58% hoping for a party switch from him and just 15% against the idea.

Marco Rubio's poll numbers have declined every time PPP's polled Florida this year and voters are now evenly divided on him with 40% approving and 40% disapproving. He began 2011 with a +12 approval spread at 43/31. Here's how Rubio's numbers have moved as his first year in the Senate has progressed:

Month	Approval	Spread
March	43/31	+12
June	42/35	+7
September	44/39	+5
November	40/40	0

There's not much evidence Rubio would be a game changer as Republican Vice Presidential pick next year either. Only 24% of Floridians say they'd be more likely to vote for the GOP ticket if Rubio was on it, compared to 41% who say that would actually make them less inclined to vote Republican. The numbers with independents are similar to the overall ones at 22/38.

Finally Democrats lead the generic Congressional ballot in the state 46-40. That's become the trend for the party in big states- we recently had similar findings in Ohio and Pennsylvania- and bodes well for the party's chances to take back the House in 2012.

Full results here

Comments

[Michael]

If Obama wants to win Florida in 2012, I think he just needs to link the GOP nominee to the far-right radicalism of the Scott administration and I think he could win the state. The same goes for the other extreme right Governors in Ohio and Wisconsin. 2010 was a bad year for the Dems, but it might help in 2012.

[Jay]

Well, if you think the Dems are going to win the House back, it must be based more on hope than any polling. Due to reapportionment, winning back seats in PA, Ohio, NY and I could name a whole bunch of other states has become very difficult unless of course, there is a huge Democratic romp. At the moment, even if Obama wins, it doesn't look like a romp.

[Tina Rocha]

Obama win? Please don't make me laugh, I have chapped lips. Let’s see, Triumph the Insult Dog or Barack Obama? Here ya go Triumph......

[Josef Stalin]

Polls are just made up for whoever comes up with the cash. Might as well believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy to believe this poll.