A poll from Rasmussen Reports unveiled on Wednesday finds Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in jeopardy as he seeks a third term in November.
The poll of likely voters finds Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack with a solid lead over Nelson despite the incumbents four decades on the Florida political stage. Mack takes 43 percent, while Nelson trails with 36 percent, 16 percent remain undecided and 5 percent more back other candidates. A Rasmussen poll released last month found the race between the two a tie, with both candidates taking 41 percent each.
Nelson does better against two of the other Republican candidates in the race -- but they are narrowing the gap.
Taking 41 percent, Nelson leads when matched up against Republican hopeful former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, who follows with 38 percent, while 17 percent are undecided and 5 percent support other candidates. Last month, Nelson had a double-digit lead over LeMieux, beating the Republican 45 percent to 35 percent.
Nelson has a similar lead over retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister. Nelson takes 42 percent when matched up against McCalister who garners 38 percent, while 15 percent are undecided and 4 percent back other candidates. When he ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination during the 2010 election cycle, McCalister took more than 10 percent.
Rasmussen Reports also gauged the measure of passionate support and opposition the candidates garner. Nelson is seen as very favorable by 20 percent and very unfavorable by 23 percent. Last month, 15 percent saw him as very unfavorable. The poll finds voters divided on Mack -- with 15 percent seeing him as very favorable and the same percentage seeing him as very unfavorable. While 7 percent see LeMieux as very favorable, 20 percent see his as very unfavorable. Last month, 15 percent saw LeMieux as very unfavorable. Only 5 percent see McCalister as very favorable while 15 percent see him as very unfavorable.
The poll of 500 likely Florida voters was taken March 13 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
