Florida Poll

​The well-known Florida polling firm Bendixen & Amandi recently tested the Sunshine State electorate (3/1-4; 602 FL registered voters; 300 over-sample of FL likely Democratic primary voters), focusing several questions on the Democratic presidential primary.  In this poll, Bendixen & Amandi tried a different angle.  The first ballot test was asked in an open-ended mode, meaning respondents were asked to name the presidential candidate they supported without hearing a list of names.  This is done to test hard support for the particular candidates.
 
In this critical state with 219 Democratic first ballot convention delegates up for grabs, former Vice President Joe Biden finished first, but with just 11% support.  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I/D-VT) was second but taking only 5 percent.  In third, California Sen. Kamala Harris was a point behind Sen. Sanders. 
 
The picture changed on the second ballot test, however, a question in which the full complement of candidates’ names was disclosed to the respondent.  In this format, Mr. Biden picks up 26% preference with Sen. Sanders pulling 11%, Sen. Harris’ 9%, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) holding 4% support.  Under both questions, all other candidates could do no better than being the choice of just 1% of participants.