September 5, 2018 - Dead Heat In Florida Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Nelson, Scott Have Matching Grades, But Rubio Is Down

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Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Florida Gov. Rick Scott are locked in a 49 - 49 percent dead heat among likely voters in the U.S. Senate race in the Sunshine State, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.





The gender gap is a mirror image as men back Gov. Scott 53 - 45 percent, while women back Sen. Nelson 53 - 45 percent. This is the first survey of likely voters in this race by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll, and can not be compared to earlier surveys of registered voters.





White voters back Scott 55 - 44 percent, as black voters back Nelson 90 - 5 percent. Hispanic voters go Republican 59 - 39 percent.





Nelson leads 89 - 8 percent among Democrats and 56 - 43 percent among independent voters. Scott leads 92 - 7 percent among Republicans.





Among Florida likely voters who have named a U.S. Senate candidate, 92 percent say their mind is made up.





Voters approve 49 - 43 percent of the job Nelson is doing as a U.S. Senator and give him a 48 - 42 percent favorability rating.





Voters approve 51 - 46 percent of the job Scott is doing as governor and give him a divided 49 - 47 percent favorability rating.





"The Florida Senate race, one of the most important this election year, is a dead heat," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





"Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democratic incumbent, faces the most difficult challenge of his long political career. He is locked in a 49 - 49 percent contest with Republican Rick Scott, Florida's governor."





"The campaign is a prototype of our nation's political environment: Democrat Nelson carries women and black voters, while Republican Scott wins among men and white voters. The key in close elections like this one often lies with independent voters. So far, Sen. Nelson has the edge with this swing group. The candidate who holds those voters in November is likely to win," Brown added.





President Donald Trump is not an important factor in their choice of a U.S. Senator, 46 percent of Florida likely voters say, while 26 percent say their Senate vote is mainly to support the president and 25 percent say their vote is mainly in opposition to Trump.





While he is not on the ballot in 2018, only 44 percent of Florida likely voters approve of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, while 47 percent disapprove.





From August 30 - September 3, Quinnipiac University surveyed 785 Florida likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts nationwide public opinion surveys, and statewide polls in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Texas as a public service and for research.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll





Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.





4. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bill Nelson the Democrat and Rick Scott the Republican, for whom would you vote? (If undecided) As of today, do you lean more toward Bill Nelson the Democrat or more toward Rick Scott the Republican?

LIKELY VOTERS........................................ WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Nelson 49% 7% 89% 56% 45% 53% 48% 40% Scott 49 92 8 43 53 45 51 58 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - - - - DK/NA 2 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Nelson 37% 50% 44% 90% 39% Scott 62 48 55 5 59 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - - - DK/NA - 2 1 5 2

4a. (If candidate chosen q4) Is your mind made up, or do you think you might change your mind before the election?

LIKELY VOTERS................ CANDIDATE CHOSEN Q4.......... CANDIDATE OF CHOICE Q4 Tot Nelson Scott Mind made up 92% 92% 92% Might change 8 7 8 DK/NA - 1 -

5. Is your opinion of Bill Nelson favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

LIKELY VOTERS........................................ WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 48% 14% 86% 48% 44% 52% 48% 40% Unfavorable 42 77 6 42 48 37 42 52 Hvn't hrd enough 8 7 8 8 8 8 7 7 REFUSED 2 2 1 2 1 3 2 1 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 37% 50% 44% 83% 39% Unfavorable 57 39 47 13 44 Hvn't hrd enough 6 8 7 3 17 REFUSED 1 2 2 1 -

6. Is your opinion of Rick Scott favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

LIKELY VOTERS........................................ WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 49% 87% 12% 46% 54% 45% 51% 54% Unfavorable 47 10 83 51 44 50 47 42 Hvn't hrd enough 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 REFUSED 2 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 61% 46% 53% 18% 62% Unfavorable 38 50 44 74 35 Hvn't hrd enough 1 1 1 5 3 REFUSED 1 3 2 3 -

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott is handling his job as governor?

LIKELY VOTERS........................................ WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 51% 90% 14% 48% 56% 47% 54% 56% Disapprove 46 8 82 48 41 50 44 40 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 3 3 2 4 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 63% 48% 55% 19% 63% Disapprove 33 49 42 78 34 DK/NA 4 3 3 3 2

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator?

LIKELY VOTERS........................................ WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 49% 14% 85% 51% 46% 51% 45% 43% Disapprove 43 76 9 40 46 40 45 51 DK/NA 8 9 6 9 8 9 10 6 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 38% 49% 44% 77% 48% Disapprove 56 42 48 12 42 DK/NA 6 9 8 11 10

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Marco Rubio is handling his job as United States Senator?

LIKELY VOTERS........................................ WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 44% 77% 15% 40% 52% 37% 46% 49% Disapprove 47 15 77 50 43 52 43 43 DK/NA 8 8 8 10 5 12 11 8 WHITE..... Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 57% 38% 47% 19% 57% Disapprove 37 49 44 75 40 DK/NA 5 13 9 7 3

12. Will your vote in this year's election for United States Senator be more to express support for President Trump, more to express opposition to President Trump, or will President Trump not be an important factor in your vote?