The latest Quinnipiac poll on the governors race in Florida confirms what really has become the consensus over the past 10 days or so – that the Rick Scott-Alex Sink race is dead even with just three weeks to go.
The new poll shows Scott up 45%-44%. That's closer than the 49%-43% Scott lead that Quinnipiac released in a poll from two weeks ago. Coupled with Rasmussen's survey showing a 3% lead for Scott yesterday, and Mason/Dixon showing Sink up last Friday, and by all estimates the race is dead even, making every move both the candidates make a big one over the rest of October.
As we reported yesterday, Sink has chosen to go for broke (figuratively speaking) in making sure that folks at least in the Tampa Bay area really understand some of the controversies behind Rick Scott's business career, with a two-minute ad that begins airing on three Tampa Bay area television stations beginning Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
Inside the Quinnipiac numbers, the survey shows that on a likability factor, Sink is winning that aspect of the debate, with Sink getting a favorable 42%-37% rating, while Scott is underwater on that count, at 39% like, 46% dislike. And obviously Sink is trying to capitalize on that with her two minute ad.
Q pollster Peter Brown mentions that and those unhappy with the economy as reasons people are moving towards Sink:
“In the last two weeks, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has moved into a statistical tie with Rick Scott. Her image has improved while his has deteriorated. It would seem that the debate through television ads about their respective business careers may be the reason,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “At this point she is winning that debate handily and it is having an impact on the race.
“How the voters feel about the economy is also directly tied to their vote: Among those who think the economy is improving, Ms. Sink leads 69 – 22 percent, while Scott leads 58 – 25 percent among voters who see the economy getting worse.”
Independents are also coming around. They supported Scott in an earlier Quinnipiac poll, but are now turning for the Democrat, as Sink leads in that demographic 51%-34%.
Two weeks ago, those numbers were much different, with Scott up at the time among the indies, 46%-40%.
This article appears in Oct 7-13, 2010.