A new poll shows businessman Donald Trump is running worse in Florida than at the national level after his comments about U.S. Sen. John McCain’s, R-Ariz., service in the Vietnam War while former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is the favorite son of the Sunshine State.
Mason-Dixon released a poll of the Republican presidential primary in Florida on Friday showing Bush ahead with 28 percent. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., takes second with 16 percent. Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., places third with 13 percent followed by Trump with 11 percent.
“This is the first Florida poll taken entirely since Trump’s remarks regarding John McCain’s Vietnam War service,” Brad Coker of Mason-Dixon noted on Friday. “His 11 percent showing in Florida is far below his support in recent national polls. This could be the result of the home state advantage of both Bush and Rubio.
“However, the fact that Walker has slipped ahead of him may be a stronger sign that his candidacy is fading,” Coker added. “Furthermore, there is a clear ceiling that Trump has among Florida Republicans.”
Coker pointed to the poll which shows only 27 percent of Florida Republicans would consider voting for Trump while a solid majority -- 58 percent -- say they will not vote for the businessman.
The rest of the pack struggles in single digits. Despite having moved to Florida after his 2008 presidential bid, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., takes a distant fifth with 5 percent. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., pulls 4 percent. Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, who entered the race earlier this week, is tied with U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., with 3 percent each. Businesswoman Carly Fiorina gets 2 percent. Dr. Ben Carson and Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., are knotted together with 1 percent apiece.
A host of candidates are struggling in Florida, failing to get one-half of 1 percent, including former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.; former Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas.; Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J.; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; and former Gov. George Pataki, R-N.Y.
The poll of 500 Florida Republicans was taken from July 20-23 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
