Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) leads Republican challenger Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) 44 to 36 percent, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday morning.

A previous Quinnipiac poll released in January showed Mack and Nelson in a statistical dead heat. Nelson’s improved numbers are linked to President Obama‘s rising fortunes in the state.

“President Barack Obama’s surge in Florida is helping Sen. Bill Nelson’s re-election chances,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Institute assistant director Peter Brown. “Just as President Obama’s lead in the presidential race in the Sunshine State is fueled by female voters, so too is Nelson’s.”

Among female voters, Nelson leads Mack by 46-32 percent margin.

Quinnipiac did not poll Mack’s primary challengers, Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL) and Mike McCalister.

The poll of 1,228 registered Florida voters was conducted from March 20-26, and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.

Tags | Bill Nelson, Connie Mack, Peter Brown, Quinnipiac