Rick Scott surges ahead of former Congressman Bill McCollum in the race for the Florida Republican Party gubernatorial nomination. Scott leads McCollum 43:29.
Since entering the race in April, Scott has dominated the primary launching a negative campaign against McCollum and ultimately pushing down the former Congressman’s favorability ratings. In March, 33% of Republican voters had a favorable opinion of McCollum and 20% had an unfavorable opinion. Now, 26% of Florida Republicans have a favorable opinion of the himand 40% have an unfavorable opinion.
Republicans have higher opinions of Scott, but not by much 35% give him high marks and 32% have an unfavorable opinion.
Before Scott entered the election, McCollum was leading Democratic nominee Alex Sink, now both Republicans are trailing Sink.
In the Democratic Senate primary, both Jeff Greene and Kendrick Meek are unknown amongst Democrats. 45% of Democrats are unsure of their opinion of Greene and 47% have yet to form their opinion of Meek. With 37% of Democratic voters undecided the plurality of Democrats are undecided in the Florida Senate Primary.
Meek is marginally ahead of Greene 28:25, but well within the margin of error. Democratic voters seem uninterested in this election. Most Democrats have rallied behind Charlie Crist.
“In both cases the primaries are hurting the party’s chances of winning the general election,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “It has been particularly difficult because the opposing party isn’t facing the trials of primary season and other candidates have been able to inch ahead, as the party attempts to form a united front.”
PPP surveyed 400 Republican primary voters and 339 Democratic primary voters from July 16-18th. The margin of error for the Republican survey is +/-4.9% and for the Democratic one it’s +/-5.3%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Florida Republican Survey Results
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill McCollum? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 26%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Rick Scott? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 35%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 32%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 33%
Q3 The Republican candidates for Governor are
Bill McCollum and Rick Scott. If the primary
was today, who would you vote for? If Bill
McCollum, press 1. If Rick Scott, press 2. If
you’re undecided, press 3
McCollum……………………………………………….. 29%
Scott ……………………………………………………… 43%
Undecided………………………………………………. 28%
Q4 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 4%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Conservative…………………………………………… 70%
Q5 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q6 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………………………………………………….. 4%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 13%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 34%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 50%
Florida Democratic Survey Results
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jeff Greene? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3
Favorable……………. 22%
Unfavorable ………… 33%
Not Sure……………… 45%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Kendrick Meek? If favorable, press 1. If
unfavorable, press 2. If you’re not sure, press
3.
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 20%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 47%
Q3 The Democratic candidates for Senate are
Glenn Burkett, Maurice Ferre, Jeff Greene, and
Kendrick Meek. If the primary was today, who
would you vote for? If Glenn Burkett, press 1.
If Maurice Ferre, press 2. If Jeff Greene, press
3. If Kendrick Meek, press 4. If you’re
undecided, press 5.
Burkett …………………………………………………… 6%
Ferre ……………………………………………………… 4%
Greene…………………………………………………… 25%
Meek……………………………………………………… 28%
Undecided………………………………………………. 37%
Q4 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 32%
Moderate………………………………………………… 56%
Conservative…………………………………………… 12%
Q5 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 58%
Man……………………………………………………….. 42%
Q6 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic………………………………………………….12%
White …………………………………………………….. 66%
African American …………………………………….. 19%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%
Q7 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………………………………………………….. 3%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 10%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 46%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 40%
