Scott Leading Sink 52-46 for Florida Governor, Republicans Lead Democrats in all Three Cabinet Races, United Faculty of Miami Dade College Poll Finds

MIAMI, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Republican Rick Scott holds a 51.5 — 46.0 percent lead over Democrat Alex Sink in Florida's gubernatorial race, while all three GOP nominees are leading their Democratic rivals in state cabinet races, according to a United Faculty of Miami Dade College (UFMDC) poll released today.

The poll, conducted by live interviewers, shows that Scott is receiving 77.0 percent of Republican votes, and 50.5 percent of Independents, compared to Sink's 71.5 percent and 46.4 percent among Democrats and Independents, respectively (leaners are included in trial heat totals).

In the race for state Attorney General, Republican Pam Bondi leads Democrat Dan Gelber 52.5 — 43.2 percent, while Republican Jeff Attwater leads Democrat Lorrane Ausley 55.3 — 40.4 percent in the race for Chief Financial Officer, and Republican Adam Putnam is ahead of Democrat Scott Maddox 50.7 — to 44.4 percent in the race for Commissioner of Agriculture.

A super majority of Florida voters, 68 percent, say they believe the state is headed in the wrong direction. "The economy," meanwhile, at 47 percent, remains the top issue concern — "health care," at 10 percent, is the only other issue that breaks double digits among all voters. Among Independents, "taxes"  scored second highest, at 14.7 percent.

Dr. Barry Greenberg, who supervised the poll for UFMDC, said that all the Republican state-wide candidates in Florida appear to be benefiting from the rising GOP tide.

"It looks like it could be a very good year for Republicans in Florida," said Greenberg, professor emeritus of educational and psychological studies at Florida International University in Miami.

Scott leads Sink, the state's current Chief Financial Officer, despite his higher negatives. Scott's upside down on his favorable-unfavorable rating 41 — 48 percent, including 32 percent "very unfavorable," and 32 — 52 percent among Independents. Sink, in contrast, has a 41 — 42 percent rating overall, and 32 — 44 percent among Independents.

For UFMDC's poll, 511 most likely voters were interviewed Sept. 23-30, with a sampling margin of error of 4.4 percent. Respondents had the choice of being interviewed in English or Spanish. Only voters whose registration records indicated they had voted in the 2008 general election, and who also said they would "definitely" or "probably" vote in the 2010 general election, were interviewed. All results are presented unweighted.

United Faculty of Miami Dade College (www.ufmdcc.org) is the union that represents professors at Miami Dade College. The poll is part of UFMDC's Voters Action Project (votersactionproject.org), a non-partisan voter education and outreach program. UFMDC and the Voters Action Project are independent of Miami Dade College.

SOURCE United Faculty of Miami Dade College