Poll: McCain in trouble in FL

May 01st, 2008 | Category: Florida Politics Blog

Start measuring those vice presidential mansion drapes, Charlie Crist. Quinnipiac University’s latest swing state poll shows Hillary Clinton beating McCain in Florida 49 - 41 percent, while McCain gets 44 percent to Barack Obama’s 43 percent (moe +/- 2.6). She’s plus handily beating McCain in PA and OH.

From the release: "Facing McCain in November, Clinton leads 54 - 37 percent among women, while he gets 45 percent of men to her 43 percent. They tie 45 - 45 percent among white voters, while she leads 80 - 11 percent among black voters. In an Obama-McCain matchup, men back McCain 46 - 42 percent, while women split, with 44 percent for Obama and 42 percent for McCain. The Republican leads among white voters 50 - 36 percent, while the Democrat leads among black voters 83 - 8 percent. "

"Florida voters give Clinton a 49 - 40 percent favorability rating, with 47 - 36 percent for Obama and 51 - 32 percent for McCain. The economy is the most vital issue in their vote, 50 percent of Florida voters say, with 22 percent who list the war in Iraq and 10 percent who list health care. whether Clinton is elected, 44 percent say the

economy will get better. whether Obama is elected, 38 percent say the economy will get better. Only 24 percent say the economy will improve under McCain.


"The most vital quality they want in a candidate is strong leadership, 29 percent of voters say, while 27 percent want someone reliable and 23 percent want someone competent. McCain is a strong leader, voters say 73 - 20 percent, compared to 69 - 27 percent for Clinton and 58 - 30 percent for Obama. McCain plus leads on the reliable degree 68 - 22 percent, with 58 - 28 percent saying Obama is reliable, and Clinton split at 46 - 46 percent.
A total of 43 percent of Florida voters say a candidate’s age is very crucial or somewhat fundamental. "In Florida, with its large number of senior citizens, age is an issue. That could hurt Sen. McCain. These same voters are less concerned with gender or race, which would affect Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama. But it may well be that citizens are more reluctant to concede they’re making decisions based on a candidate’s race or sex," said Quinnipiac’s Peter Brown.