Republican Adam Putnam tops a four-way field for state commissioner of agriculture, according to a Sunshine State News Poll.
Putnam, a five-term congressman from Bartow, holds a 40-35 lead over former Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox.
TEA Party candidate Ira Chester garners 14 percent and independent Thad Hamilton receives 5 percent, with 6 percent undecided.
Sunshine State News' tracking poll of 1,853 likely voters shows a stable contest over the past week. Since nightly surveys began Oct. 6, Putnam gained 2 percentage points by Oct. 13, Chester declined 1 point and the other candidates remained even.
The secretary of agriculture and consumer affairs is a Cabinet-level position currently occupied by Republican Charles Bronson, who is retiring.
Putnam, who grew up on a ranch and citrus grove in Central Florida, has a virtual monopoly on agriculture-industry endorsements and held a 3-to-1 fund-raising edge over Maddox as of Oct. 8.
The Republican's lead might be bigger without the TEA candidate in the race. Putnam is backed by only 64 percent of the GOP respondents, with Chester receiving 20 percent -- one of every five Republican voters.
"I'm pleased with where we stand and the grass-roots team we've built statewide," Putnam said. "Ultimately, the campaign is well-positioned as we enter the final stretch."
Maddox, a former mayor of Tallahassee, has the backing of unions and law-enforcement groups.
Noting that his TV advertising did not start until Oct. 13, and then in just two media markets, Maddox called the race with Putnam "neck and neck."
Maddox, like Putnam, has yet to nail down his own party. He is supported by only 62 percent of Democratic respondents while Putnam siphons 18 percent of the Democratic vote.
Chester, also a registered Democrat residing in Tallahassee, is the only Cabinet-level candidate of the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party.
TEA Party consultant Doug Guetzloe, speaking for the retired civic activist, said, "The TEA Party is proud to have Ira leading our statewide ticket. Most tea party candidates peak on Election Day and not a day sooner."
Hamilton, of Sunrise, is a retired soil conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Mexico. He also is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army.
Hamilton was not immediately available for comment.
The Sunshine State News Poll was conducted by Voter Survey Service of Harrisburg, Pa. The margin of error is 2.28 percent.
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Reach Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
