According to a new survey from PPP, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)  is leading Rep.  Connie Mack IV (R-FL)  45 to 38 percent — a five-point increase since the group’s last poll in late July.

The reason Nelson is ahead by seven-points despite being unpopular is that Mack is even more unpopular. Nelson has middling approval numbers, with only 35 percent of voters approving of him to 42 percent who disapprove. But Nelson’s  numbers are glowing compared to Mack’s.

Only 27 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of Mack, compared to 45 percent with an unfavorable one. Just 17 percent of independents have a positive opinion of the Republican to 48 percent with a negative one. Much of Nelson’s lead comes thanks to a 45 to 29 advantage with independents.

According to a PPP analysis, the Florida Senate race represents “the new norm in electoral politics- millions have been spent bashing the heck out of both candidates, so voters dislike both of them and are kind of just choosing the lesser of two evils. For now that’s Nelson.”

According to the PPP survey, former Gov. Charlie Crist’s popularity has waned since getting back into the spotlight,

After his endorsement of President Obama only 36 percent of voters in the state now have a positive opinion of Crist to 44 percent  with a negative one. In a hypothetical match-up, Crist–running as a Democrat– would lead Gov.  Rick Scott 45 to 42 percent.

Other key findings:

• Scott’s approval rating is 41 percent with 49 percent of voters disapproving of him. Although he continues to be unpopular,  these are actually the best numbers PPP has had for the governor since he took office.
• A plurality of Florida voters- 42 percent have no opinion about DNC chair/Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz one way or another. Among those who do, 26 percemnt see her positively to 31 percent with a negative opinion.
• Democrats lead the generic Congressional ballot in Florida 44 to 43 percent, including a 39 to 28 advantage with independents.

The PPP survey of 1,548 likely Florida voters was taken from 8/31-9/2, and has a margin of error of +/-2.5 percent.

Tags | Bill Nelson, Charlie Crist, Connie Mack, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, PPP, rick scott