The latest news out of Florida courtesy of Gravis Marketing’s latest poll:
The third 2018 Florida tracking poll has been released by Gravis Marketing. Donald Trump’s favorability rating in Florida remains underwater at 41%-48% and essentially unchanged from the 41%-49% spread in February. Rick Scott holds better 43%-38% job approval is a slight drop from the 43%-35% margin he held in February. While 23% of voters remain uncertain about Governor Scott, he is seen in a more positive light than Donald Trump. Unsurprisingly, Republicans are still hoping Rick Scott will run for Senate. Despite being the GOP’s top recruit for the race, he still trails incumbent Senator Bill Nelson by the same 44%-40% that he did in February. Nelson is likely to pull farther ahead with a likely voter screen as election day approaches in November.
The Florida Governor race has seen shifts between the leading candidates in both party’s primaries. It remains to be seen since there are a high number of undecideds. But here’s some more info about this poll:
While the generic ballot remains tight in Florida (40 percent-37 percent in favor of Democrats), Kaplan notes that “Florida appears to be moving left on a host of social and cultural issues.” One caveat is that support for gay marriage has decreased from 59 percent-30 percent in December, to 51 percent-38 percent in March. Still, voters support a needle exchange program 56 percent-21 percent, and poker and gambling in Florida 45 percent-33 percent. Voters oppose a ban on transgender bathroom use 38 percent-42 percent, but approve of a ban on transgender locker room use 43 percent-37 percent.
After the Stoneman Douglas High school shooting in February, Gravis asked two new questions on gun control measures. Earlier this month, Scott signed into law a bill that raises the minimum age for purchasing firearms to 21 in the state of Florida. This provision has broad 76 percent-20 percent support among Florida voters. The measure is approved of by 90 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of Independents and 61 percent of Republicans. Voters also support a ban on semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15 by a 64 percent-31 percent margin. The semi-automatic weapon ban is supported by 87 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Independents and 37 percent of Republicans.
In November, Florida voters will get a chance to pass a ballot measure to restore voting rights to felons who have completed their court ordered sentence. Sixty percent is needed to pass a constitutional amendment in Florida, and Gravis finds the amendment supported by 63 percent of voters with only 25 percent in opposition. “This amendment seems like a done deal, already over 60 percent with 12 percent still unsure,” said Kaplan. The amendment is supported by the three leading Democratic candidates for governor and opposed by Adam Putnam on the Republican side. Ron DeSantis has yet to take an official stand on the amendment.
Nonpartisan research firm Gravis Marketing conducted this random survey of 2,212 likely voters across Florida from Feb. 26 through March 19. It has a margin of error of ±2.1%. The totals may not round to 100 percent because of rounding. The survey was conducted using an online panel of cell phone users. The results are weighted by voting demographics. For more on how the poll was conducted, click here.
Scott has yet to make up his announcement about a Senate run but Nelson is anticipating that he will run which is a smart move. This could be one nasty and expensive race and we need to be ready. Click here to donate and get involved with Nelson’s re-election campaign.