The battle over Florida’s convention delegates may be taking its toll on Barack Obama’s prospects in the Sunshine State. For the second time in three months, John McCain enjoys a double digit lead over the Democratic frontrunner. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Florida shows McCain attracting 53% of the vote while Obama earns 38%. Last month, amidst talk of a possible Florida revote, Obama had closed to within single digits of McCain. In February, however, Obama trailed McCain by sixteen points.
If McCain is matched against Hillary Clinton, the race is a toss-up—Clinton 45% McCain 44%.
McCain is viewed favorably by 62% of the state’s voters, Clinton by 49%, and Obama by 42%.
If Florida Governor Charlie Crist is selected as McCain’s running mate, 30% say they’re more likely to vote for McCain, 31% say less likely, and 31% say it would have no impact on their decision. By a 38% to 28% margin, Republicans are more likely to vote for a ticket with Crist. By a 40% to 22%, the state’s Democrats take the opposite view. Among unaffiliated voters, 30% are more likely to vote for a ticket with Crist, 22% are less likely to do so.
Now that Fidel Castro has turned over power in Cuba to his brother, 37% of Florida voters believe it’s time to lift the economic embargo against Cuba. Thirty-seven percent (37%) disagree and 26% are not sure.
Rasmussen Markets shows that Republicans are currently given a 73.1 % chance of winning Florida’s twenty-seven Electoral College Votes this fall. As this poll is released, Florida is rated “Leans Republican” in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. Balance of Power projections indicate that the Electoral College scoreboard is a toss-up at this time.