Marco Rubio Leads Alex Sink, Debbie Wasserman Schultz in New Poll

A new poll shows U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., could be looking at a close race for a second term in 2016. Rubio is considered a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, shows Rubio is slightly underwater with 43 percent approving of him but 45 percent disapproving of him. Despite that, 42 percent of those surveyed believe Rubios positions are about right though 37 percent think he is too conservative and 10 percent believe he is too liberal.

Rubio starts off with a small lead over two potential Democratic contenders. He beats former state CFO Alex Sink 45 percent to 42 percent. Rubio leads U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), 46 percent to 43 percent.

If Rubio does not seek a second term, former U.S. Rep. Allen West has expressed interest in running for the Republican nomination. The poll finds West does not do as well as Rubio. Sink takes 44 percent when matched up against West who follows with 38 percent. Wasserman Schultz does slightly worse than Sink, getting 44 percent while West takes 40 percent.

The poll of 579 registered Florida voters was taken from Sept. 27-29 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent.