Florida poll has good news for Bush, Graham (Bush beats Chubby Cheeks, 53%-40%)

Sun-Sentinel.com ^ | 6/22/03 | William E. Gibson

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WASHINGTON -- Sen. Bob Graham holds an commanding lead in his home state of Florida over all rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, but he trails President Bush in a potential general-election matchup, according to a poll conducted for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The poll found high public-approval ratings for both Graham and Bush in Florida, the state that decided the last presidential election. The president drew especially strong support among Hispanic voters, indicating that his outreach efforts and Cuba policies have strengthened his re-election chances.

The poll of 600 Floridians who regularly vote in statewide elections -- plus an additional sample of likely Democratic primary voters -- offers a snapshot of the presidential race in the most important swing state at a time when voters are still getting familiar with the candidates.

If the Florida Democratic primary were held today, Graham would bury his rivals for the presidential nomination, the poll shows.

He was the choice of 49 percent of the Democrats sampled, followed by Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, who each drew 10 percent. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was favored by 8 percent of Democratic voters, and five other candidates drew 6 percent or less.

In a hypothetical matchup between Bush and Graham, the poll of 600 voters -- Democrats, Republicans and independents -- put the president ahead 53 percent to 40 percent, with 7 percent undecided.

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Some of the president's strongest support came from Hispanics, who backed him over Graham by 68 percent to 29 percent. Florida Hispanics -- unlike those of New York, California and other states -- have strong Republican leanings, particularly Cuban-Americans who favor the GOP's tough anti-communist foreign policies.

This advantage is among all Hispanics == not just Cuban-Americans.