With one week to go before the primary in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District between Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former head of the Democratic National Committee, and law professor Tim Canova, Florida Atlantic University is out with a poll giving Wasserman Schultz a 50-40 edge. This is the first independent survey released here. In the days following Wasserman Schultz’s resignation as DNC chair after Wikileaks released a series of unflattering emails stolen from the committee, Canova took a poll giving her a similar 46-38 edge. The pro-Wasserman Schultz group Patriot Majority subsequently released a poll showing her up 59-26.
This contest has turned into one of the most expensive House primaries of the year. Despite her problems, Wasserman Schultz has always been a strong fundraiser, and she began the contest with a huge warchest. However, Canova raised huge sums of money from Bernie Sanders’ supporters unhappy with Wasserman Schultz’s role in the Democratic presidential primary. From July 1 to Aug. 10, Canova outspent the incumbent $1.53 million to $873,000.
However, as the polls demonstrate, Canova still has a tough task on Aug. 30. Hillary Clinton took about 70 percent of the vote here in the March presidential primary, so Canova needs to win over a huge portion of Clinton voters to have a shot. The Florida Atlantic University survey indicates that he’s making progress, but he doesn’t have much time left. This south Florida seat is safely Democratic.