Mastergardener2k’s diary highlights the results of stunning Quinnipiac University Poll showing Joe Biden with a 13-point lead over Trump in Florida. The diary also mentions the low job approval of Florida Governor Ron DeathSantis, a Trump mini-me if ever there was one. But what I think deserves more notice is the rapid, deep drop in DeathSantis’ popularity among Floridians.
As reported today in the Tampa Bay Times, the Quinnipiac poll put DeathSantis’ favorability rating at a new low, with 41 percent of voters approving of his job performance and 52 percent disapproving. That’s a 31-point drop (!) in DeathSantis’ job approval from a Quinnipiac poll conducted in late April.
The clear and primary reason for DeathSantis’ freefall is his massive bungling and mismanagement of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Tampa Bay Times explains:
A July 10 CBS News/YouGov poll found that 53 percent of voters disapproved of DeSantis’ handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Florida. A July 12 CNBC/Change Research poll that asked the same question found that 57 percent disapproved.
The Quinnipiac poll found that 70 percent of Florida voters believe the spread of coronavirus is “out of control,” and that the same percentage support masks-in-public mandates — an order that DeSantis has resisted.
DeathSantis’ latest response to the state’s dire COVID-19 numbers show why he’s in the toilet with Floridians. On a day when Florida once again reported more than 10,000 new positive coronavirus test results, when the state’s death toll reached 5,518, and when the state reported 173 coronavirus deaths — a new daily record, DeathSantis declared that “we’re trending much better today than we were a couple weeks ago.”
Too bad he’s not on the ballot this year. But DeathSantis’ huge unpopularity in Florida is not good news for Trump come November in our state.