Florida: Post-Irma Polling

Cherry Communications, the regular pollster for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, went into the field after Hurricane Irma to test the potential Senate race between three-term incumbent Bill Nelson (D) and Gov. Rick Scott (R).  For the first time, possibly due to receiving high marks for his handling of the Hurricane Irma catastrophe, Gov. Scott has pulled ahead of Sen. Nelson.  According to the Cherry poll (9/17-24; 615 FL likely voters via telephone interviews), Gov. Scott now maintains a small 47-45% edge over Sen. Nelson.  In previous polls, it was Sen. Nelson who posted a small lead. 
 
Gov. Scott has yet to announce his Senate challenge, but the fact that no other Republican is coming forward to make the race tells us clearly that he will do so.  The Governor says he is in no hurry to enter the race and may wait well into next year before officially entering.  The Florida primary is not until August 28th, so the primary election cycle is long in duration.

--Jim Ellis