Florida (FL) Poll * January 27, 2010 * Republican Leads In Florida Go - Quinnipiac University

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January 27, 2010 - Republican Leads In Florida Governor's Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say Yes To Oil Drilling, No To Haitians

Word format Florida voters support State Attorney General Bill McCollum's promise to challenge the constitutionality of any federal health care bill that forces people to buy health insurance and give the Republican a 41 - 31 percent lead over State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democrat, in the governor's race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
McCollum's promised legal challenge is a "good idea," Florida voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey 49 - 42 percent. Support for the idea is 73 - 18 percent among Republicans and 53 - 39 percent among independent voters. Democrats oppose the lawsuit idea 73 - 19 percent.
Florida voters disapprove 57 - 32 percent of the health care reform plan being considered by Congress.
In the Governor's race, McCollum leads Sink 84 - 4 percent among Republicans and 33 - 25 percent among independent voters, while Democrats back Sink 68 - 8 percent.
"Attorney General Bill McCollum has moved out to a double-digit lead in the race for Governor. He's beating CFO Alex Sink among independents and doing better among Democrats than Ms. Sink is doing among Republicans," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But McCollum shouldn't start picking out draperies for the governor's office. Certainly part of his lead is due to being somewhat better known than Ms. Sink - although neither one is a household name in the state. "
Voters approve 56 - 20 percent of the job McCollum is doing and give him a 35 - 15 percent favorability, with 48 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion.
Sink gets a 39 - 22 percent approval rating, with 40 percent undecided, and 68 percent don't know enough about her to form an opinion.
McCollum dominates a Republican primary with a 44 - 6 percent lead over State Sen. Paula Dockery, while 47 percent remain undecided.
In a general election matchup, Sink leads Dockery 35 - 29 percent.
Offshore Drilling
When it comes to energy, Floridians favor 63 - 33 percent increased offshore drilling nationally. They support drilling in federal waters off the Florida coast by a smaller 55 - 38 percent margin. But a proposal to allow drilling within five miles of the Florida coast is a "bad idea," voters say 53 - 39 percent.
"Floridians favor more offshore drilling, just not too close to the state's coastline," said Brown. "They are okay with drilling in their neighborhood just not in their yard. On all of the drilling questions, Republicans and men are the most supportive, Democrats and women the least supportive and independents are in the middle."
Haitian Immigrants
When it comes to Haiti, Florida voters say 51 - 43 percent that immigration laws should be fully enforced rather than waived. Voters split 47 - 48 percent on increasing the number of legal immigrants allowed in the United States, and disapprove 50 - 46 percent of a decision by the Obama Administration to grant temporary legal status for 18 months to Haitians who were living in the United States illegally when the earthquake struck.
"In the wake of the cataclysmic Haitian earthquake, many Floridians are willing to loosen restrictions on immigration, but more voters do not want to open up the state to more refugees from the troubled island nation," said Brown.
From January 20 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,618 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. The survey includes 673 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
1. (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Bill McCollum and Paula Dockery,for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPUBLICAN...................... Lib/ WtBrnAgn Tot Men Wom Mod Con Evnglcl McCollum 44% 53% 36% 30% 52% 46% Dockery 6 9 4 10 5 7 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 2 3 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 2 1 1 2 DK/NA 47 37 56 56 41 44
TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2010 Republican primary for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Bill McCollum and Paula Dockery, for whom would you vote?
REGISTERED REPUBLICAN Jan 27 Oct 21 2010 2009 McCollum 44 43 Dockery 6 7 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 2 DK/NA 47 47
3. If the 2010 election for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Alex Sink the Democrat and Bill McCollum the Republican, for whom would you vote?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Sink 31% 4% 68% 25% 32% 30% 13% McCollum 41 84 8 33 44 38 62 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - - - 1 - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 3 2 2 DK/NA 25 11 22 39 22 29 22 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Sink 30% 33% 27% 24% 36% McCollum 45 40 44 43 34 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 - - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 3 3 7 1 DK/NA 25 23 25 26 28
TREND: If the 2010 election for governor were being held today and the candidates were Alex Sink the Democrat and Bill McCollum the Republican, for whom would you vote?
Jan 27 Oct 21 Aug 19 Jun 9 2010 2009 2009 2009 Sink 31 32 34 38 McCollum 41 36 38 34 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 2 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 2 1 2 DK/NA 25 27 25 25
4. If the 2010 election for Governor were being held today and the candidates were Alex Sink the Democrat and Paula Dockery the Republican, for whom would you vote?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Sink 35% 10% 70% 29% 36% 34% 17% Dockery 29 61 8 21 29 29 46 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 3 2 1 4 4 2 4 DK/NA 32 26 21 44 29 35 32 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Sink 35% 37% 29% 27% 41% Dockery 34 33 32 32 19 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 1 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - 3 3 6 3 DK/NA 29 26 35 34 36
10. Is your opinion of - Bill McCollum favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Favorable 35% 50% 23% 34% 40% 30% 45% Unfavorable 15 6 24 15 19 11 8 Hvn't hrd enough 48 43 51 47 37 57 45 REFUSED 2 1 1 4 3 1 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Favorable 35% 39% 42% 29% 27% Unfavorable 12 13 15 8 21 Hvn't hrd enough 51 45 40 63 50 REFUSED 2 3 2 - 2
TREND: Is your opinion of - Bill McCollum favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him? (*Attorney General Bill McCollum)
Jan 27 Oct 21 Aug 19 Jun 9 Jan 21 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009* Favorable 35 34 42 40 40 Unfavorable 15 14 13 13 14 Hvn't hrd enough 48 50 43 46 44 REFUSED 2 2 2 2 1
11. Is your opinion of - Alex Sink favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Favorable 24% 13% 36% 23% 27% 20% 16% Unfavorable 8 13 4 7 10 6 13 Hvn't hrd enough 68 73 59 68 61 73 70 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 1 - 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Favorable 21% 27% 21% 17% 28% Unfavorable 8 9 11 7 5 Hvn't hrd enough 71 64 66 74 67 REFUSED - - 1 2 -
TREND: Is your opinion of - Alex Sink favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her? (*Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink)
Jan 27 Oct 21 Aug 19 Jun 9 Jan 21 Nov 18 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009* 2008* Favorable 24 23 23 25 24 27 Unfavorable 8 8 8 7 5 13 Hvn't hrd enough 68 68 68 66 70 59 REFUSED 1 1 1 1 1 1
12. Is your opinion of - Paula Dockery favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Favorable 8% 12% 7% 6% 9% 7% 11% Unfavorable 6 4 7 5 8 4 3 Hvn't hrd enough 85 84 84 88 81 89 84 REFUSED 1 - 1 2 2 1 1 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Favorable 9% 15% 4% 4% 7% Unfavorable 6 9 4 3 5 Hvn't hrd enough 84 74 91 93 87 REFUSED - 2 1 - 2
TREND: Is your opinion of - Paula Dockery favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
Jan 27 Oct 21 2010 2009 Favorable 8 5 Unfavorable 6 3 Hvn't hrd enough 85 91 REFUSED 1 1
17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill McCollum is handling his job as Florida's Attorney General?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 56% 73% 44% 54% 57% 54% 67% Disapprove 20 8 30 20 25 16 13 DK/NA 24 19 25 26 18 30 20 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 60% 59% 58% 54% 48% Disapprove 17 21 16 11 28 DK/NA 22 20 25 35 24
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill McCollum is handling his job as Florida's Attorney General?
APPROVE....... High Low Jan 27 Oct 21 Aug 19 Jun 9 Apr 15 Jan 27 Oct 24 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2007 Approve 56 53 53 51 48 56 44 Disapprove 20 19 16 16 18 20 17 DK/NA 24 27 31 33 34 24 39
18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alex Sink is handling her job as Florida's chief financial officer?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 39% 35% 48% 36% 42% 35% 36% Disapprove 22 23 16 26 23 20 26 DK/NA 40 43 37 38 35 44 38 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 37% 50% 34% 29% 38% Disapprove 25 22 24 14 19 DK/NA 37 28 41 57 43
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Alex Sink is handling her job as Florida's Chief Financial Officer? (*High approve also 39% Feb 2009 and Jun 2009)
APPROVE....... High Low Jan 27 Oct 21 Aug 19 Jun 9 Apr 15 Jan 27 Feb 18 2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010* 2009 Approve 39 38 37 39 33 39 32 Disapprove 22 23 21 17 22 22 22 DK/NA 40 39 42 44 46 40 46
24. In general, do you support or oppose the United States increasing the amount of drilling for oil and natural gas in offshore waters?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Support 63% 85% 40% 65% 67% 58% 77% Oppose 33 13 54 32 30 36 20 DK/NA 4 3 6 3 3 6 3 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Support 65% 51% 71% 67% 61% Oppose 29 45 25 30 35 DK/NA 6 4 5 3 3
25. Some state officials have suggested lifting the bans on drilling in federal waters off Florida. Do you think lifting those bans is a good idea or a bad idea?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Good idea 55% 70% 37% 58% 61% 49% 66% Bad idea 38 19 55 38 35 40 27 DK/NA 8 11 8 4 4 11 7 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Good idea 59% 47% 63% 56% 50% Bad idea 35 43 30 39 41 DK/NA 6 10 7 4 9
26. One proposal would allow drilling rigs 5 miles off the Florida coast. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Good idea 39% 50% 27% 41% 46% 33% 49% Bad idea 53 38 66 53 49 56 43 DK/NA 8 12 8 6 5 12 8 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Good idea 41% 33% 48% 32% 36% Bad idea 48 61 45 65 53 DK/NA 11 6 7 3 11
27. In general, do you think normal immigration laws should be waived in a time of crisis like the Haitian earthquake, or should existing laws be fully enforced?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes/Waive laws 43% 31% 59% 40% 38% 48% 29% No/Fully enforced 51 63 38 53 58 46 67 DK/NA 6 6 3 7 4 7 5 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes/Waive laws 38% 37% 44% 39% 52% No/Fully enforced 57 59 52 52 41 DK/NA 6 4 4 10 7
28. Do you think that the number of legal immigrants from Haiti currently allowed should be increased at this time, or not?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Yes/Increased 47% 35% 58% 48% 42% 51% 38% No 48 59 37 47 54 42 57 DK/NA 5 6 5 5 4 6 5 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes/Increased 46% 43% 44% 47% 52% No 49 53 50 47 41 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 6
29. The Obama administration will grant temporary legal status for 18 months to tens of thousands of Haitians immigrants who were living in the United States illegally before the earthquake. Do you approve or disapprove of that decision?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Approve 46% 31% 63% 45% 43% 49% 24% Disapprove 50 65 33 51 53 47 72 DK/NA 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 42% 37% 41% 35% 64% Disapprove 51 60 56 56 32 DK/NA 6 3 3 8 4
30. From what you've heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Mostly Approve 32% 10% 57% 31% 32% 33% 14% Mostly Disapprove 57 83 28 58 59 54 77 DK/NA 11 7 14 11 10 12 9 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Mostly Approve 27% 26% 25% 30% 49% Mostly Disapprove 60 66 62 57 41 DK/NA 13 8 13 13 10
31. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum says that if Congress passes a health care bill that requires all Americans to buy health insurance he will file a lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality. Do you think filing a lawsuit is a good idea or a bad idea?
WtBrnAgn Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Evnglcl Good idea 49% 73% 19% 53% 54% 44% 68% Bad idea 42 18 73 39 39 45 23 DK/NA 9 9 9 8 7 10 8 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Good idea 52% 52% 53% 56% 38% Bad idea 39 38 38 33 55 DK/NA 10 10 9 11 7