Florida voters, especially women, like Gov. Rick Scott more as a person, but half still disapprove of the job he’s doing, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.
According to the poll, 50 percent disapprove of the job Scott is doing compared to 37 percent who say he is doing well. This compared to a 52 – 35 percent disapproval August 5 and a 57 – 29 percent disapproval May 25.
Voters were split, 37 – 37 percent when asked if they liked the governor as a person, no matter how they feel about his policies.
On job approval, Republicans give Scott a 70 – 18 percent thumbs up. Democrats disapprove 82 – 8 percent of the job Scott is doing.
While voters are split down the middle on Scott’s personal rating, they say they don’t like his policies by 53 – 35 percent. By 53 – 36 percent they say they do not approve of his handling of the state budget.
And, Florida voters now say 48 – 41 percent that Scott’s budget is unfair to people like them, an improvement from August when they said “unfair” 51 – 33 percent and May when they said “unfair” 54 – 29 percent.
“The improvement in Gov. Scott’s ratings on the fairness of his budget is a key to his improvement,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. “Voters don’t like politicians they see as being unfair, especially when it comes to cutting programs for people. Politicians who can convince voters they are being fair on budget issues gain a leg up with the electorate.”
Florida voters support 71 – 27 percent a law requiring welfare recipients to pass drug tests. There are substantial partisan disagreements, but no gender gap. Republicans back the law 90 – 8 percent, as do independent voters 75 – 24 percent. Democrats split 49 – 50 percent.
“Voters overwhelmingly like the requirement that welfare recipients must pass drug tests to receive benefits. But the issue is now before the courts where the only opinion that matters is that of the judge,” Brown said.
The Quinnipiac University poll, which was conducted from September 14 – 19, surveyed 1,007 registered voters, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
