President Barack Obama and Gov. Rick Scott are upside down in Florida but the Sunshine State’s two U.S. senators are keeping their necks above water.
Qunnipiac University released a poll early Thursday showing what Florida voters think of their political leaders.
Despite carrying the state twice, a majority of Florida voters -- 51 percent -- disapprove of Obama, while 45 percent approve of him. Obama retains the support of 84 percent of Florida Democrats, while 92 percent of Republicans disapprove of him. A majority of voters outside the major parties -- 54 percent -- disapprove of Obama while 43 percent of these voters approve of him.
Scott is disapproved of by 47 percent; 41 percent approve of him. Most Republicans -- 68 percent -- approve of Scott; 71 percent of Democrats disapprove of the governor. Voters outside the major parties are more divided, with 45 percent disapproving of Scott while 41 percent approve of him.
While U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has been in Florida politics for decades, more than a quarter of those surveyed -- 27 percent -- are not sure about him. Nelson has the approval of 46 percent while 27 percent disapprove of him. Around two-thirds -- 65 percent -- of Florida Democrats approve of Nelson. Voters outside the major parties are more split with 43 percent approving of Nelson while 29 percent disapprove of him. A plurality of Republicans -- 40 percent -- disapprove of Nelson but 30 percent of them approve of him. Nelson is currently in his third term and is up for reelection in 2018.
Currently running for the Republican presidential nomination, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has said he will not seek a second term in 2016. Rubio is approved by a majority -- 52 percent --of those surveyed while 36 percent disapprove of him. More than three quarters of Florida Republicans --78 percent --approve of Rubio. A majority of voters outside the major parties -- 52 percent -- approve of Rubio while 38 percent disapprove of him. A majority of Democrats -- 58 percent -- disapprove of Rubio while 30 percent approve of him.
The poll of 1,173 Florida voters was taken Sept. 25-Oct. 5 and had a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
