Poll: DeSantis Leads Crist by 11 Points, Strong Hurricane Ian Response Approval
BOCA RATON (FLV) – According to a new poll from Florida Atlantic University, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is leading Democrat Charlie Crist by 11 points.
According to the university’s poll, DeSantis leads the Democrat 50.9%-39.7%. 4% said they’d vote for someone else while 5.3% said they are undecided.
DeSantis’ approval ratings paint a stronger picture:
- 53% approval, 39% disapproval
- 89% Republican approval, 20% Democrat approval
- 63% Hurricane response approval
- 40% Democrat Hurricane response approval, 32% disapproval
The poll was conducted from Oct. 12-16 among 719 likely voters with a margin of error of 3.65%. FAU said the data was weighted based on 2020 turnout modeling.
Other recent polls resulted in similar findings.
The last poll aggregated by RealClearPolitics before FAU – Mason-Dixon – also gave DeSantis an 11 point lead, conducted from Sep. 26-28.
Since September every aggregated poll has shown DeSantis gaining steam into the double-digit win margin. He continues to outpace Crist in fundraising.
Marco Rubio vs. Val Demings
The poll from FAU also polled likely voters on the U.S. Senate race between Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Val Demings.
Rubio’s lead was still strong, but several points lower than DeSantis’.
47.7% said they’d vote for Rubio while 42% said Demings. 3% said someone else, and 7.2% are undecided.
Important Issues
Inflation garnered the most attention from voters at 36.2%, with ‘threats to democracy’ coming at a distant second with 19%, and healthcare at 11.4%:
- Inflation/36.2%
- Threats to democracy/19%
- Healthcare/11.4%
- Abortion access/9.3%
- Immigration/8.5%
- Crime/5.7%
- TIE: Housing affordability and education/3.6%
- Hurricane recovery/2.8%
DeSantis and Crist will debate on Monday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. EST. The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
