With the support of President Donald Trump, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., has the lead over Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam as the Republican gubernatorial primary enters its last month.
Mason Dixon released a poll on Friday morning showing DeSantis taking 41 percent of likely Republican primary voters while Putnam gets 29 percent. Veteran Bruce Nathan, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2016, pulls 2 percent while other GOP contenders--Don Baldouf, Timothy Levine , Bob Langford, John Joseph Mercadante and Bob White who leads the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida--all take less than one half of one percent. More than quarter of those surveyed--28 percent--are undecided.
Both of the major candidates get good marks from the Republicans who know them. DeSantis is seen as favorable by 44 percent of Florida Republicans while 13 percent see him as unfavorable. A quarter of those surveyed--26 percent--are neutral on him while 17 percent are not aware of him.
Putnam is seen in a favorable light by a more than third of those surveyed--37 percent--while 12 percent see him as unfavorable. A third--33 percent--are neutral on him while 18 percent are not aware of him.
Mason Dixon speculated that DeSantis has propelled over Putnam thanks, in large part, to support from the White House.
“It is likely that President Donald Trump’s endorsement of DeSantis is the driving factor behind the shift in the race,” Mason Dixon noted.
DeSantis is counting on Trump’s support in the final weeks of the campaign. Trump is scheduled to campaign in Tampa on Tuesday and is expected to boost DeSantis’ gubernatorial bid.
The primary will be held on August 28.
The poll of 500 Florida Republicans was taken from July 23-July 25 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.
