New Q Poll: Rick Scott's Disapproval Numbers Doubled in 2 Months

A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University and released on Wednesday found Florida voters souring on Gov. Rick Scott, with 48 percent disapproving of his performance in office and 35 percent supporting it.

Scotts disapproval numbers spiked dramatically from Quinnipiacs last survey in early February when the governor won 35 percent approval and 22 percent disapproval. The poll found Scott remained more popular among fellow Republicans, winning their approval 58 percent to 25 percent, but his stock among Democrats and, more importantly, independents remains low. Only 12 percent of Democrats approved of Scott as opposed to 74 percent who disapproved, while 33 percent of independents approved of the governor compared to 48 percent who disapproved.

Today, Scott is a four-letter word to many Florida voters, but political popularity can change with time, said Peter Brown,assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. The experience of Scotts predecessor, Charlie Crist, who had 70 percent approval ratings at this point in his tenure, shows how fickle public opinion can be.

The poll of 1,499 registered voters was taken between March 29 and April 4 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.