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M-D poll shows Scott’s lead narrowing, Meek edging ahead

Posted Aug 5, 2010 by Catherine Whittenburg and William March, Tallahassee bureau

Updated Aug 5, 2010 at 06:11 PM

Yet more poll results released today bring good news for establishment candidates Bill McCollum and Kendrick Meek, who have been fighting for their political lives in primary battles against wealthy, self-financed candidates.

The poll also showed indecisive results on both sides of the state attorney general’s race, with no candidate pulling significantly ahead and majorities of undecided voters.

The poll was done by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research for for Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association.

It shows multimillionaire Rick Scott’s lead over attorney general Bill McCollum narrowing in the GOP primary race for governor, 37 percent to 31 percent with 29 percent undecided. Other recent polls have shown Scott with double-digit leads.

In the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, the poll showed Meek ahead 33 percent to 29 percent over real estate magnate Jeff Greene, a lead equal to the poll’s 4-point error margin. For several weeks, Meek has trailed Greene by margins of up to double digits in other polls.

Meek has been conserving his more limited financial resources while Greene spent heavily on television advertising and direct mail, but Meek recently started his own television advertising buy and began a 10-day campaign bus tour designed to get publicity in local media markets.

In the Republican attorney general primary, Pam Bondi led by a single point, with 17 percent to 16 percent for Jeff Kottkamp and 13 percent for Holly Benson and 54 percent undecided. The 4-point error margin means those results are roughly a tie.

In the Democratic primary, Dan Gelber led by less than the error margin, with 23 percent to Dave Aronberg’s 21 percent and 56 percent undecided.

Pollster Brad Coker said Hispanic Republicans favor McCollum over Scott by 3-1, “which now is keeping McCollum in the race.” He said the Hispanic voters may have been turned off by Scott’s use of immigration as a wedge issue in the primary.