>>"If Rep. Harris had only one opponent she might be in deep trouble. But having three candidates splitting the anti-Harris vote is a major plus for her," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
I find the above conclusion to be highly biased !
"So she's sitting on a 16-point lead a week before the voting in a race where there has been little movement - all in all, a good place to be."
"Harris has a cadre of strong supporters that might be especially important in what is expected to be a relatively low-turnout primary. Only a third of her supporters say they might change their mind and vote for one of the other candidates," Brown added.
But even among likely primary voters - the GOP hardcore - she has higher negatives than might be expected for a candidate for statewide office. Only 36 percent of likely primary voters rate her favorably, while 25 percent view her unfavorably; 22 percent have a mixed opinion and 14 percent say they haven't heard enough about her to form an opinion. Each of her three opponents are so little known that none has more than 18 percent rating him favorably.
By comparison, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, who leads the race for the party's gubernatorial nomination, is viewed favorably by 51 percent, negatively by 11 percent. Even Tom Gallagher, who is trailing Crist by more than 20 points in the latest Quinnipiac University poll, is viewed favorably by 32 percent, unfavorably by 17 percent.
From August 23 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 317 Florida likely Republican primary voters, with a margin of error of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the nation as a public service and for research. For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks
7. (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for United States Senator were being held today and the candidates were Katherine Harris, LeRoy Collins Jr., Peter Monroe and William McBride for whom would you vote? (If undecided q7) As of today, do you lean more toward Harris, Collins Jr., Monroe or McBride? This table includes Leaners.
LIKELY REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY VOTERS
Harris 38%
Collins Jr. 11
Monroe 3
McBride 22
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) -
DK/NA 24
I find their information questionable !