Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to Democrats, released a new poll on Wednesday showing that Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is in solid shape to win a third term in 2012.
The poll found Nelson beating the Republican field by double digits -- but failing to break 50 percent against any of the mostly unknown GOP hopefuls with the exception of Senate President Mike Haridopolos.
Former congressman turned talk-show host Joe Scarborough did the best against Nelson but still trailed by 13 percent, losing to Nelson 45 percent to 32 percent. Nelson led former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux by 15 percent, beating the Republican 48 percent to 33 percent. The poll had Nelson leading former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, 48 percent to 32 percent. Nelson reached double digits in the poll when pitted against Haridopolos, beating the Merritt Island Republican 50 percent to 34 percent. Nelson also led Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales by 19 percent, 47 percent to 28 percent.
Despite Nelsons decades in Florida politics, many Floridians remained unsure about his performance. While 38 percent of those surveyed approved of his performance and 34 percent disapproved, more than a quarter -- 28 percent -- were not sure about Nelson.
Bill Nelsons approval numbers make him look vulnerable but they might be a little deceiving, insisted Dean Debnam, the president of PPP. Democrats dont love him but they would still vote for him in a general election, and his better-than-average support across party lines from Republicans means his eventual opponent will be starting from behind.
The Republican hopefuls remained largely unknown but their unfavorable ratings outweighed their favorability. Wales was the most unknown with 83 percent not sure of him, 14 percent viewing him in an unfavorable light and only 3 percent seeing him as favorable. More than three-quarters of those surveyed -- 77 percent -- were unsure about Hasner as opposed to 6 percent who saw him favorably while 17 percent viewed him as unfavorable. Despite his time in the U.S. Senate, LeMieux also remained unknown to most of those surveyed with 69 percent unsure about him compared to 8 percent who saw him as favorable and 22 percent as unfavorable.
Haridopolos had similar numbers -- 68 percent of those surveyed were not sure about the state Senate president while 23 percent saw him unfavorably and 9 percent viewed him as favorable. Despite his show on MSNBC, Scarborough remained mostly unknown, as well. While 15 percent saw him favorably and 20 percent unfavorably, 65 percent of those surveyed were not sure.
Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who announced Friday that he would not take on Nelson to win the seat his father once had, trailed Nelson by 13 points, taking 34 percent against the Democrats 47 percent. Mack was better known than the other Republicans. While 57 percent of those surveyed were not sure about Mack, he was viewed favorably by 21 percent and unfavorably by 23 percent.
The poll of 500 likely voters in Florida was taken between March 24 and March 27, and had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
