A new poll shows U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., could be looking at a close race for a second term in 2016. Meanwhile, Rubio is still 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 under water with 43 percent approving 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, 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 doesn't 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.
Despite this, West is seen as favorable by 27 percent of those surveyed but unfavorable by the same percentage. The poll finds both Sink and Wasserman Schultz upside-down. Sink, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2010, announced recently she would not run again in 2014. Only 23 percent of those surveyed see her as favorable, though 25 percent view her as unfavorable.
The poll finds Rubio is being hurt by his prominent role in pushing immigration reform as one of the Gang of Eight in the Senate. Only 21 percent of those surveyed support his stance on immigration, while 41 percent oppose it. Despite this, 48 percent of those surveyed support creating a path to citizenship for illegal aliens; 35 percent oppose it.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., garners mixed marks in the poll, with 41 percent approving of him and 38 percent disapproving.
The poll of 579 registered Florida voters was taken between Sept. 27-29 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
