Meek Ahead in Two Major Polls by Double-Digits

A set of recent polls show the caustic U.S. Senate race in Florida heating up as gaps are widening and the tension tightening in the hotly contested Democratic and Republican primaries.  Data show good news for candidate Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL) as he pulls out a 12 – 24 percentage point lead over billionaire Jeff Greene (D) in the Democratic Senate primary.

The most recent Mason-Dixon Poll (facilitated by Washington, D.C.-based independent polling firm Mason-Dixon Polling and Research for the Tampa Tribune newspaper) has Meek leading 42% to 30%. Reports William March of the Tampa Tribune:

“That’s happening despite last-minute surges of spending by [the] opponent …

In the Democratic Senate race, the Mason-Dixon Polling & Research survey done for the Tribune and other news clients showed Meek leading 42 percent to Greene’s 30 percent, with 25 percent undecided and 5 percent other responses.

That’s little changed from a Mason-Dixon poll last week showing Meek with a 14-point lead, 40-26 percent.”

And, in more promising news for Meek, the most recent Public Policy Polling survey shows Meek ahead of Greene 51% to 27%.  Reports Tom Jensen of Raleigh, NC-based PPP:

“Certainly Meek’s 70-9 lead over Greene with African Americans, who should make up about a quarter of the primary electorate, is important to his strong advantage. But he’s also up 47-37 with white voters, a big improvement from PPP’s previous poll of the race and an indication that Bill Clinton’s efforts on his behalf may have paid off in a big way.

Meek is polling particularly well with liberals, where he has a 64-20 lead. But he’s also up 49-32 with moderate Democrats and 34-30 with conservative ones.”

Last minute appearances by President Obama and former President Bill Clinton are the primary reasons for Meek’s burst in the polls, most analysts note.  However, says Victoria DeFrancesco-Soto, Assistant Political Science Professor at Northwestern University, Meek has some distance to go.

“Even though Meek made a comeback in the polls, there are still variables to consider. Greene could still pull it off if he mobilizes the non-base Democratic and independent voters.  Turning to the general election, there is significant doubt that Meek is going to win.  The fact that Rubio hasn’t come out in support of controversial Republican immigration proposals and his Cuban-American roots and ties, Rubio could manage a win from added Latino mobilization,” says DeFrancesco-Soto.

Charles D. Ellison, Managing Editor for Politic365.com, Washington Correspondent for The Philadelphia Tribune and a weekly political analyst providing insight on WDAS-FM (Philadelphia), WVON-AM (Chicago) and KSRO-AM (Sonoma County, CA). He is author of the critically-acclaimed urban political thriller TANTRUM. More information can be found at http://www.cdellison.com

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