Nelson Leads Harris 61 - 33 In Florida Senate Race (Quinnipiac poll)

Quinnipiac University ^ | 11 October 2006 | Quinnipiac University

[okstate]

October 11, 2006 - Nelson Leads Harris 61 - 33 In Florida Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say U.S. Is Losing The War In Iraq

In the Florida Senate race, Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has a commanding 61 - 33 percent lead over U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris among likely voters, including leaners, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Six percent are undecided and 18 percent of likely voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind in the next four weeks.

Sen. Nelson leads Rep. Harris 56 - 31 percent among registered voters, with 11 percent undecided. This compares to a 61 - 24 percent Nelson lead in a July 27 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

In this latest survey, Republican likely voters back Harris 67 - 27 percent, while Democrats back Nelson 85 - 10 percent and independent voters back Nelson 65 - 26 percent.

"Congresswoman Harris has made some progress in her race against Sen. Nelson, but with four weeks until the election, it isn't nearly enough to make her a serious threat to the incumbent," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Floridians, by almost a two-to-one margin, still view her unfavorably - an indication of just how difficult a task she faces. In order to win, she'll have to convince Floridians she is not who they think she is."

Only 20 percent of Florida voters have a favorable opinion of Harris, with 37 percent unfavorable, 16 percent mixed and 26 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Nelson gets a 31 - 12 percent favorability, with 19 percent mixed and 38 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

"For a politician who has held statewide office for more than a decade, Sen. Nelson's profile is surprisingly fuzzy. Four in 10 voters say they need to know more about him before they can decide if they view him favorably or unfavorably," Brown said.

"But it doesn't matter because Congresswoman Harris is so weak. She is losing a quarter of the Republican vote and more than 60 percent of the independent vote and getting only half of the white evangelical vote - a recipe for electoral disaster for a Republican in Florida."

Bush Approval

Florida voters disapprove 59 - 37 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing. Voters say 55 - 28 percent that the U.S. is losing the war in Iraq, and 44 - 39 percent that the U.S. is losing the war on worldwide terrorism.

From October 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 968 Florida registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. The survey includes 783 likely voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.

[ZULU]

These s.o.b.s in Quinnipiac polled ME once. The questions are loaded. They are biased and they are designed to elicit a response which can only make Dems and libs look good. Its a propaganda machine.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the info, Julie.

[marc costanzo]

>>These s.o.b.s in Quinnipiac polled ME once. The questions are loaded. They are biased and they are designed to elicit a response which can only make Dems and libs look good. Its a propaganda machine.<<

Now that's important !

Can you remember what was the name of the poll and/or what questions they asked ?

[Phyllis]

Appreciate the debate information.

Happy to be another "Harris fanatic" who won't concede...

and happy to vote for representation from someone who finishes her campaign promises so soon she has to make new ones.

A quote of Katherine's: "I expect to maintain this contest until successful, or 'til I die, or am conquered."

God bless you Katherine.

[Sam Ketcham]

I did an absentee ballot as I will not be home on election day. I voted for Harris, could not vote for a Dem for Rep. so Buchanan got my vote, hope he isn't the person I think he is; voted all Rep EXCEPT for the attorney General. Voted for a Dem to keep the Rep POLITICIANS honest. Voted not to retain any of the Judges. Voted Rep for the Judges up for election and left a bunch blank. Somehow, Rove and Bush have to get the message. We will not return them to office unless they act like Americans - jobs in America for Americans (if you need workers END welfare) - 40% of Black males are unemployed, why do we need illegals? Seal the Border. Last chance before 2008!

[ZULU]

It was a Presidential poll. I think it was the first time Bush ran.

I can't remember the exact questions, but they were phrased along the lines of:

Would you support government assistance to starving children in the inner cities with no parents, or do you think the governmnet should just let them die?

THAT kind of phraseology.

[MineralMan]

"Well, KH doesn't have a name recognition problem but she's holding off on tv at the moment."

---

For the moment? What moment might she be waiting for. When a candidate is behind by even 10-15 points, advertising is the only solution. If she is not advertising now, and everywhere in Florida on an almost continuous basis, I expect her negative margin to increase.

For pete's sake. The election is just over three weeks away.

[marc costanzo]

I hate to add to the bad news here or quote a site like Wonkette.com, but Katherine Harris has not been meeting with Florida's Newspaper editors, like someone running for U.S. Senate should ....... ?

She is not meeting with them now, like she should ?

Is she avoiding them ?

Maybe she shouldn't bother to, if it means having to meet with the likes of the Saint Petersberg Times . .

? ?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Post #125 well said! (Cue Heart - "Never...NEVER! Never run away!")