It’s not unusual in a primary for different polls to show different results, and that’s precisely what happened when Public Policy Polling (.pdf) and Quinnipiac University measured likely Republican primary voters in Florida before tomorrow’s vote.
In the PPP poll, former health care executive Rick Scott has a 47-40 percent lead over Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum in the governor’s race. Quinnipiac has McCollum with a 39-35 percent lead. The margin of error of the PPP poll is +/- 5.6 percent, while the Quinnipiac poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent. Thirteen percent of voters are undecided according to PPP, while 22 percent were in the Quinnipiac poll.
The polls also show different favorable ratings; the only thing consistent was that Republican primary voters are divided over how much they like McCollum and Scott. PPP gave McCollum a 38-45 percent favorability rating, while Scott had a 46-33 percent rating. Quinnipiac measured Scott’s favorability rating at 31-40 percent, while McCollum fared better at 39-37 percent. A barrage of attack ads by both candidates and their affiliated groups have likely contributed to voters’ divided attitudes.
Rep. Kendrick Meek, buoyed by campaign appearances with former President Bill Clinton, President Obama, and other national Democrats, looks like he will beat Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. PPP gave him a 51-27 percent lead, while Quinnipiac gave him a 39-29 percent lead. Meek, who is African-American, will likely get a boost from black voters, who favor him 70-9 percent, according to PPP. (White voters also favored him at 47-37 percent.)
The Florida primary is tomorrow. The American Independent and The Florida Independent will have results and updates live.
