Senator Bill Nelson’s 2012 reelection prospects look promising. When matched against Senator George LeMieux and popular former Governor Jeb Bush, Nelson surges forward. Nelson leads LeMieux 49:28 and Bush 46:44.
Nelson has gained the support of Florida independents, who have pushed him into the lead. In both horse races 49% of independents side with Nelson.
LeMieux is unsurprisingly unknown throughout the state; 62% of Florida voters say they are unsure of their opinion of the junior Senator. Bush is still popular in Florida. 45% of voters have a favorable opinion of the former Governor including 78% of Florida Republicans.
Florida voters approve of Nelson’s work in the Capital; 39:33, a slight bump from his approval ratings four months ago.
“While this Senate election is not at the forefront of voters’ minds in Florida, it is good news for Nelson’s reelection prospects,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “It is also good news for Democrats, who don’t need to lose another seat in the Senate.”
PPP surveyed 900 Florida voters from July 16-18, 2010. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.26%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
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 approve or disapprove of Senator Bill
Nelson’s job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 39%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 33%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 28%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator
George LeMieux’s job performance? If you
approve, press 1. If you disapprove, press 2.
If you’re not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 13%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 25%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 62%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jeb Bush? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 45%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 42%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 13%
Q4 If the candidates for Senate in 2012 were
Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican George
LeMieux, who would you vote for? If Bill
Nelson, press 1. If George LeMieux, press 2.
If you’re undecided, press 3.
Nelson……………………………………………………. 49%
LeMieux …………………………………………………. 28%
Undecided………………………………………………. 23%
Q5 If the candidates for Senate in 2012 were
Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Jeb
Bush, who would you vote for? If Bill Nelson,
press 1. If Jeb Bush, press 2. If you’re
undecided, press 3.
Nelson……………………………………………………. 46%
Bush ……………………………………………………… 44%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q6 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 48%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 46%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 6%
Q7 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 19%
Moderate………………………………………………… 44%
Conservative…………………………………………… 37%
Q8 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 49%
Man……………………………………………………….. 51%
Q9 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 ……………………………………………….. 40%
Republican……………………………………………… 40%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 20%
Q10 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 76%
African American …………………………………….. 10%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q11 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………………………………………………….. 7%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 39%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 30%
