Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., and Dr. Ben Carson are moving up in Florida despite two rival Republican presidential candidates from the Sunshine State.
Democratic-aligned Public Policy Polling (PPP) released a survey of Florida Republicans Tuesday, examining the 2016 presidential race. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., leads the pack with 25 percent while Walker places second with 17 percent -- far better than he has done in previous PPP polls of the 2016 Florida Republican primary. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., places third with 15 percent followed by Carson, who moved to Florida after retiring from his decorated surgical career at Johns Hopkins, with 12 percent.
The other candidates place in single digits. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., who moved to the Florida Panhandle after his 2008 presidential bid, takes 7 percent. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who launched his presidential bid on Monday, pulls 6 percent. Former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., take 4 percent each, while former Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, lags with 3 percent.
When asked about who their second choice is, Rubio takes 16 percent followed by Bush with 12 percent, Huckabee with 11 percent and Walker with 9 percent.
Most of the contenders are in good shape with Florida Republicans. Only 19 percent of Florida Republicans disapprove of Rubio while 71 percent approve of him. Bush is seen as favorable by two-thirds of Florida Republicans -- 66 percent -- while 24 percent view him as unfavorable. Huckabee is also well-thought-of with 68 percent seeing him as favorable; 15 percent viewing him as unfavorable.
Carson is far less known, but a majority of Florida Republicans -- 51 percent -- see him as favorable, while only 10 percent see him in an unfavorable light. Walker also does well, even though he is lesser known, with 52 percent seeing him as favorable and 14 percent as unfavorable. Cruz is also not as well known, but 50 percent see him as favorable, while 19 percent regard him unfavorably.
Perry is seen as favorable by 58 percent of Florida Republicans while 18 percent see him as unfavorable; Paul does slightly worse with almost a quarter -- 24 percent -- seeing him unfavorably to 54 percent viewing him favorably.
Christie is upside down with Florida Republicans. Only 35 percent view him as favorable; 40 percent as unfavorable.
The poll of 425 registered Florida Republicans was taken March 19-23 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.8 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
