A new poll shows Florida will once again be a swing state in the 2016 presidential election with some of the leading Democrats underwater.
Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, released a poll Tuesday which shows President Barack Obama and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton upside down. Despite carrying Florida twice, 50 percent of those surveyed disapproved of Obama, while 45 percent approve of him. Clinton is also upside down, with 51 percent viewing the Democratic front-runner in an unfavorable light; 41 percent viewing her favorably.
Vice President Joe Biden, who is also in the mix for Democrats in 2016, is upside down in the poll as well, with 42 percent seeing him favorably and 46 percent unfavorably. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is seen as favorable by 33 percent and unfavorable by 29 percent, but 35 percent of those surveyed are not sure about her. Warren has said she will not run for president if Clinton does.
But the various contenders for the Republican nomination generally do not impress in the poll. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is above water with 45 percent approving of him while 40 percent disapprove of him. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is seen as favorable by 45 percent and unfavorable by 42 percent.
The poll shows two potential Republican presidential candidates have room to grow. Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., is seen as favorable by 33 percent and unfavorable by 28 percent, but 39 percent are not sure. Almost half of those surveyed -- 49 percent -- are not sure about Dr. Ben Carson, but those who know him lean his way with 32 percent viewing him as favorable while 19 percent see him as unfavorable. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., who moved to Florida after his 2008 presidential bid, is also above water with 39 percent seeing him as favorable while 38 percent view him as unfavorable.
Other potential Republican candidates do not do as well. Former Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, is seen as unfavorable by 38 percent while 35 percent view him in a favorable light. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is seen as favorable by 35 percent while 40 percent see him as unfavorable. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who launched his presidential bid on Monday, does slightly worse with 37 percent unfavorable and 30 percent favorable.
Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., is easily the candidate in the worst shape in Florida, according to the poll. Only 29 percent see him as favorable while 47 percent view him as unfavorable.
While a majority of those surveyed think the two Florida Republicans should not run -- 52 percent said Bush should stay out while 51 percent say Rubio should not run for president -- both of them are within the margin of error of Clinton. The Democrat leads 47 percent to Bushs 44 percent. Rubio is even closer, taking 46 percent to Clintons 48 percent.
Clintons lead over the other Republicans is higher, though she is not ahead of any of them by double digits, beating Paul by 4 percent, Huckabee by 5 percent, Cruz and Christie by 7 percent and Walker, Perry and Carson by 8 percent.
Walker does better against other Democrats, tying with Biden with 43 percent each and trailing Warren 42 percent to 41 percent.
The poll of 923 registered Florida voters was taken March 19-23 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
