FL-Rasmussen: Obama slightly ahead

[Tender Branson]

46% - Barack Obama (D)
43% - Mitt Romney (R)

45% - Barack Obama (D)
43% - Rick Santorum (R)

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/florida/election_2012_florida_president

[Tender Branson]

Nelson doing 10 points worse than Obama ?

After defeating Katherine Harris by 20 or so in 2006 and doing 5% better than Al Gore in 2000 ?

Very strange.

PS: I just noticed that Connie Mack's real name is "Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV".



Maybe it has to do with the fact that FL voters think the old Connie Mack is running again this year ...

[cope1989]

Geez, what is going on in Florida?? It polls more Republican than states like North Carolina and Virginia, it elected Rick Scott to the governorship, and now the moderate Bill Nelson is behind in the polls to CMack. Could the ultimate swing state be trending Republican? And if so, why?

[King]

Great Society and Hippie olds are dying and being replaced with Reagan olds. Also, Cubans.

[marvelrobbins]

I find It very hard to Believe Obama ahead slightly but Bill Nelson down by 7 In senate race.

[OC]

Maybe because people want a dem prez and gop controlled congress.

[marvelrobbins]

If they want gridlock and nothing getting done then ok

[Reaganfan]

Geez, what is going on in Florida?? It polls more Republican than states like North Carolina and Virginia, it elected Rick Scott to the governorship, and now the moderate Bill Nelson is behind in the polls to CMack. Could the ultimate swing state be trending Republican? And if so, why?

As a frequent wanna-be Floridian, I can tell you that even some of the big cities (Tampa, mainly) lean more right than any city in Ohio for example. Add to that the more rural areas like I-75 corridor, and the extreme right-wing panhandle...and even some Cubans voting Republican and it may be a right state in the future.

[Oakvale]

It's almost as if Scott Rasmussen is a massive troll.

[wormyguy]

Geez, what is going on in Florida?? It polls more Republican than states like North Carolina and Virginia, it elected Rick Scott to the governorship, and now the moderate Bill Nelson is behind in the polls to CMack. Could the ultimate swing state be trending Republican? And if so, why?

Florida has been much more Republican at the state level than at the presidential level for a long time.  Prior to that it was much more [conservative] Democratic at the state level than at the presidential level.

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

Database entry: http://uselectionatlas.org/POLLS/PRESIDENT/2012/polls.php?action=indpoll&id=1220120313016

[Mr.Phips]

Maybe because people want a dem prez and gop controlled congress.

If that's true, than Democrats are ROYALLY screwed.  Republicans already have a huge majority in the House and have strings on Obama like a puppet.  Give them the Senate and look forward to Social Security privitization and huge Medicare cuts. 

[All life is a blur of Republicans and meat.]

Nelson does make Obama seem inspiring by comparison.

[J. J.]

It could be that R nomination race is driving down any potential challenger's numbers.  I expect that to reverse as soon as the primary ends.

[© Tweed the Younger]

R-O in FL is a fight of the titans.  o/c Obama gets to 270 before FL

[pbrower2a]

It could be that R nomination race is driving down any potential challenger's numbers.  I expect that to reverse as soon as the primary ends.

Wishful thinking.  To the extent that criticisms of fellow Republicans in the 2012 campaign have credibility, President Obama has been given unintended help in the event that he needs it. For good reasons the Republicans have long had their "Eleventh Commandment" -- to say nothing derogatory against a fellow Republican.  Anything that any candidate has said against the eventual nominee will be used against the eventual nominee. You have yet to see the negative ads that the Obama campaign can come up with.

It might be that Republicans will unite against what they see as the worst thing to happen to America since Bataan... but that won't be enough. Republican candidates so far have taken extreme positions unlikely to endear them to independent voters.