A poll released by Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to Democrats at the national level, revealed that, after less than three months in office, Gov. Rick Scott is unpopular with large segments of Floridas population while conservative star Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio remains more popular than most of his colleagues.
The poll found that those surveyed overwhelmingly had negative views of Scotts performance, with 32 percent supporting the governor while 55 percent disapproved. While Scott defeated Democratic candidate Alex Sink in November, taking 48.9 percent compared to her 47.7 percent, the PPP poll drew more from Sink voters and less from Scott supporters. In the PPP poll, 48 percent of those surveyed backed Sink and 41 percent supported Scott. The poll also found, if they were to engage in a rematch, Sink would beat Scott, taking 56 percent while the governor stood at 37 percent. The poll found 95 percent of those who backed Sink in 2010 would remain with her, while only 81 percent of Scott voters remained behind the governor.
Rick Scott was elected by the thinnest of margins in one of the best Republican election years ever, said Dean Debnam, president of PPP. Since then he hasnt done much to win over either the folks who didnt vote for him or the folks who supported him because he was a Republican, despite having some reservations about him personally.
Rubio, on the other hand, who defeated former Gov. Charlie Crist who was running with no party affiliation, and Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, won 43 percent approval and 31 percent disapproval. According to PPP, this placed Rubio comfortably in the top third of the 83 senators on which PPP has polled.
Crist, who is rumored to be looking at running for the U.S. House in 2012 after his second-place finish to Rubio, received mixed marks, with 46 percent favorability and 42 percent of those surveyed viewing him as unfavorable. Despite a long career in politics in the Republican ranks, few want to see Crist, who bolted the party when he fell behind Rubio in their primary battle,return to the GOP.
A plurality of those survyed -- 39 percent -- think Crist should continue his political career as a Democrat and 36 percent think he should remain an independent. Only 12 percent think Crist should return to the Republican fold.
The poll of 500 voters was taken between March 24 and March 27 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
