U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., has the lead in the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Florida, a new poll shows, even as almost half of Florida Republicans are not sure who they will back.
Jolly takes 26 percent of a new Democratic-tied Public Policy Polling (PPP) poll of likely Republican primary voters as the GOP looks for a candidate to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. But almost half of those surveyed--47 percent--are not sure who they will back.
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., has the support of 14 percent while 11 percent back Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera. Army veteran and businessman Todd Wilcox gets the support of 2 percent.
Manatee County businessman Carlos Beruff, who entered the race in recent days, was not included in the poll.
The poll finds none of the three leading Republicans are well known, even with likely primary voters. Jolly is seen as favorable by 16 percent of those surveyed while 13 percent view him in an unfavorable light and 71 percent are not sure about him. DeSantis is even less known with 11 percent seeing him favorably, 14 percent unfavorably while 75 percent are not sure. Lopez-Cantera is the most unknown candidate with 77 percent not sure about him with 9 percent view him favorably and 14 percent see him in an unfavorable light.
The poll of 464 likely Florida Republican primary voters was taken from Feb. 24-Feb. 25 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percent.
The Jolly team showcased the poll on Tuesday afternoon.
“While other candidates are glad-handing and ducking their day job, David Jolly is gaining the respect and support of the voters for doing what he says he will do,” said Sarah Bascom, a spokeswoman for Jolly.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
