A new Sunshine State News poll finds that Governor Rick Scott’s approval rating continues to go down the tubes. Scott now has a favorable rating of just 27 percent among registered likely voters in Florida. Scott is so unpopular that there is growing concern among Republican insiders this could sink the party’s prospects for carrying Florida in the 2012 presidential election.
Meanwhile, the poll revealed that former Gov. Charlie Crist is the only major politician in Florida with a favorable rating over 40 percent. Crist, who quit the Republican Party in an acrimonious move close to the end of his term, has a favorable rating of 42 percent, higher than Tea-Party darling, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, with a 38 percent favorable rating and U.S. Sen Bill Nelson, who has just a 32 percent approval rating.
Crist, who has not closed the door on re-entering the political arena, have some making the case for his return to the governor’s office in 2014, as a Democrat. The poll revealed that he gets his strongest support from Democrats with 55 percent giving him a favorable rating.
Scott, who indicated recently he would seek a second term, should think again, for which ever way you cut it, he will never recover from the many unpopular measures including, massive spending cuts in his first budget that continue to hurt seniors, children, the poor and middle-class–and after a mere six months in office.
And who can forget Florida’s new election law that disenfranchises minority voters, particularly blacks?
“On this (Florida’s new election law) issue alone the difference between Crist and Scott is monumental–and wide enough for Crist to march through on his way back into the governor’s office,” said Peter Schorsch of the SaintPetersblog.com.
But even if Crist does not return to politics, don’t take your eyes off of a widely popular Central Florida mayor up for re-election in January 2012, and who is expected to easily romp home. Some speculate that given his visionary leadership and ability to get the job done, he might just be the governor Florida needs to undo the damage of Scott and his wrecking crew.
Yes, Scott, even with his check book in hand again, with a soaring 58 percent negative rating, is finished.
