Quinnipiac: Rubio Leads Both Dems in Florida Senate Race

Sen. Marco Rubio, should he decide whether to seek reelection, is polling ahead of two Democratic challengers, while Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey leads his Democratic rival and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman is in a dead heat with former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows.

According to the poll, released Wednesday:

• Rubio leads U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy 47 - 40 percent and tops U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson 48 - 40 percent;
• Portman is an a dead heat with Strickland, 42-42 percent;
• Toomey leads challenger Katie McGinty, 49-40 percent.

Rubio, once a top contender for the GOP presidential nomination, told CNN on Tuesday,  just days before Friday's filing deadline in the race, that he has not yet made up his mind about whether to seek reelection.

"I'll let you know when I'm ready for it," Rubio told CNN. "When I make a decision and I'm ready to announce, I'll tell you."

Meanwhile, the poll of the three key swing states, shows that Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who was the last GOP presidential candidate to drop his bid for the nomination, still enjoys a healthy job approval rating in his state, while Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, are showing lagging approval ratings.

"In general, this poll of the three major swing states, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, is good news for the GOP," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll.

"Sen. Rob Portman is in a dead heat with former Gov. Ted Strickland in Ohio. But that is an improvement for Portman, who earlier in the campaign was down as much as 9 points. And in Pennsylvania, GOP Sen. Pat Toomey has a 9-point lead. It is far too early to say he's a sure thing, but he is in good shape."

In Florida results, where 975 voters were polled, carrying a 3.1-point margin of error:

• Men: Rubio over Murphy, 51-36 points;
• Women: 44-42 percent, Rubio;
• White voters: Republican, 56-33 percent;
• Non-white voters: Democrat, 55-30 percent;
• Similar numbers posted in the Rubio-Grayson matchup.

Approval ratings:

• 45-44 percent, Rubio;
• 52-22 percent, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson;
• 43-46 percent, Scott;
• 54-42 percent, President Barack Obama.

In Ohio, with 971 voters surveyed at a margin of error of 3.1 points:

• Men: Portman, 46-37 percent;
• Women: Strickland, 46-39 percent;
• White voters: Portman, 48-36 percent;
• Non-white voters: Strickland, 69-15 percent;

Approval ratings:

• 44-32 percent, Portman;
• 44-30 percent, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown;
• 58-32 percent, Kasich;
• 48-50 percent, Obama.

In Pennsylvania, with 950 voters surveyed at a 3.2-point margin of error:

• Men: Toomey, 56-35 percent;
• Women: McGinty, 44-42 percent;
• White voters: Toomey, 53-38 percent;
• Non-white voters: McGinty, 44-42 percent;

Approval ratings:

• 49-38 percent, Toomey;
• 47-28 percent, Democratic Sen. Robert Casey Jr.
• 41-46 percent, Gov. Tom Wolf;
• 51 - 47 percent, Obama.

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