By KEVIN DERBY SUNSHINE STATE NEWS
A new poll has Gov. Rick Scott with the lead over U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in one of the most watched Senate races in the country.
Mason Dixon released a poll of likely voters on Tuesday morning which shows Scott taking 47 percent of those surveyed while Nelson pulls 44 percent with only 9 percent undecided.
Scott does well in the northern, central and southwestern parts of the state while Nelson is secure in the southeastern part of Florida. The two candidates are running almost neck and neck in the Tampa Bay region where Nelson is ahead 45 percent to 44 percent.
Both candidates have nailed down their party base with Scott taking 84 percent of Republicans and 80 percent of Democrats behind Nelson. Voters outside the major parties break Scott’s way 47 percent to 43 percent.
The poll shows a major gender gap as 55 percent of men back Scott while 54 percent of women support Nelson.
White voters go for Scott 58 percent to 36 percent for Nelson while 83 percent of black voters support the Democrat while only 4 percent favor the Republican. Hispanics are far closer with 44 percent of them for Nelson, 39 percent for Scott and 17 percent undecided.
Nelson does well with voters under the age of 35 but he and Scott are tied with voters between 35-49. Scott does well with voters in their 50s and early 60s and leads Nelson with seniors.
Scott is seen as favorable by 44 percent of those surveyed while 33 percent see him as unfavorable, 20 percent are neutral on him and 3 percent have never heard of him. Nelson is seen as favorable by 36 percent while 31 percent view him in an unfavorable light, 26 percent are neutral on him and 7 percent have never heard of him.
President Donald Trump is seen as favorable by 43 percent, unfavorable by 46 percent and 11 percent are neutral on him. Trump will be in Tampa on Tuesday to campaign with Republican gubernatorial hopeful U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.
This poll 625 likely Florida voters was taken from July 24-25 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.