Polls

Alex Sink Still Leads Rick Scott for FL Gov.

| Tom Jensen

Header-poll-resultsRaleigh, N.C. – The divisive Republican gubernatorial primary in Florida has done nothing if it has not made Alex Sink brighter in voters’ eyes.  As she waited last night to begin her general-election campaign against a bloodied Rick Scott, she had to feel good about starting out with a seven-point lead and a personal favorability margin 33 points higher than Scott’s.

Sink currently tops Scott, 41-34, with independent Bud Chiles at 8%, and 17% undecided.  In PPP’s last poll of the race in July, she led 36-30, with Chiles at 13%.

Sink is among the most popular gubernatorial candidates PPP has polled this year, with a 35-23 favorable margin, versus 24-22 only a month ago.  Scott, already at 23-41 in July, is now even less liked than before, at 28-49.  While Republicans are down on Sink only 18-30, Democrats give Scott a 12-62 grade.  In the tail stretch of the primary, Scott also is favored by Republicans only 44-35, with independents against him, 26-54.

Despite the electorate moving rightward, Sink has become more popular and maintained her lead in the horse race almost entirely by boosting her standing with her own party.  Democrats now have a positive view of their nominee, 54-12, versus 33-18 in July.  Against Scott, she gets 72% of her own party, versus 62% in July. Scott pulls only 57% of the GOP.  While independents now personally like Sink only 32-30, versus 32-15 in July, her nine-point lead over Scott among them has not moved since the previous poll.

“Rick Scott has to hope Bill McCollum supporters forgive him for the negativity of the primary.  Right now, Democrats and independents are behind Alex Sink, and Floridians seem ready to elect a Democrat after 12 years of Republican governors,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.

PPP surveyed 567 likely Florida voters on August 21st and 22nd.  The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.1%.  Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.

Complete results are attached, and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.

If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.

Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.

Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bud Chiles?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 12%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 72%

Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill McCollum?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 25%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 54%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 21%

Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Rick Scott?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 28%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 49%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 23%

Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Alex Sink?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 35%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 43%

Q5 If the candidates for Governor this fall were
Independent Bud Chiles, Republican Bill
McCollum, and Democrat Alex Sink who would
you vote for?
Bud Chiles ……………………………………………… 12%
Bill McCollum………………………………………….. 31%
Alex Sink………………………………………………… 39%
Undecided………………………………………………. 18%

Q6 If the candidates for Governor this fall were
Independent Bud Chiles, Republican Rick
Scott, and Democrat Alex Sink who would you
vote for?
Bud Chiles ……………………………………………… 8%
Rick Scott……………………………………………….. 34%
Alex Sink………………………………………………… 41%
Undecided………………………………………………. 17%

Q7 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 54%
Man……………………………………………………….. 46%

Q8 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 13%
White …………………………………………………….. 70%
African-American …………………………………….. 13%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%

Q9 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 38%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 27%

Q10 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 22%
Moderate………………………………………………… 36%
Conservative…………………………………………… 41%

Q11 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 42%
Republican……………………………………………… 44%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 14%

Q12 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 48%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 45%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 7%

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