With the general election a little more than two months away, Democrat Charlie Crist holds a slight lead over Republican Governor Rick Scott, 42-39 percent in the latest Public Policy Polling poll. The slight lead was inside the poll’s margin of error, making the race a statistical tie.
But, the poll found the public doesn’t care too much for either candidate. Governor Scott had a 40-49 percent approval-disapproval mark, while Crist had a 40-46 favorability-unfavorability rating in the PPP poll.
That unfavorable view of political leaders also carries over to the White House. The poll found President Barack Obama’s approval rating at 39 percent and disapproval at 54 percent.
The poll also found Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie polling at eight percent in a three-way race with Crist and Scott. Removing Wyllie from the race doesn’t change the lead with Crist leading in a two-man race 44-41 percent.
Elsewhere on the ballot, the PPP poll found Republicans lead in the races for Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General, and Chief Financial Officer.
The medical marijuana amendment was polling at 61 percent, just above the 60 percent of the vote it would need to become law. However, the ratings have dropped from June when the margin was 66-25 percent.
Two issues Democrats have focused on recently, raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour and the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act both polled very well in the state. Voters in Florida support increasing the minimum wage by a margin of 61-29 percent and favor Medicaid expansion by a 61-27 percent margin.
Local
Breaking the issues down further, support for the minimum wage was over 70 percent among very liberal voters, somewhat liberal voters, and moderates. However, opposition was at 47 percent among somewhat conservative voters and at 63 percent among very conservative voters.
On the issue of accepting Medicaid funds for expansion, support for accepting the funds is above 75 percent among very liberal, somewhat liberal, and moderate voters. Opposition is at 46 percent for somewhat conservative voters and 59 percent among very conservative voters.
Looking ahead to the 2016 presidential election, the PPP poll found Hillary Clinton continues to lead the entire GOP field, although she is statistically tied with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush 46-44 percent. Clinton leads Senator Marco Rubio 49-42 percent, Chris Christie 46-38 percent, Rand Paul 48-40 percent, and Ted Cruz 51-36 percent.
According to the poll, just 32 percent of Floridians want Rubio to run for President while 31 percent want Bush to run for president. Fifty-three percent opposed either Rubio or Bush making a run at the White House.
The only group of voters, by ideology, that think Bush should run is very conservative voters, which is the same for Rubio.
