U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., holds an overwhelming lead in next week’s Democratic primary to see who will challenge U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in November.
The Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) at the University of North Florida (UNF) released a poll on Tuesday which shows Demings with the support of 80 percent of Democrats who are likely to vote in the primary on Tuesday August 23.
Former state Rep. Brian Rush and attorney William Sanchez pull 4 percent apiece. Businessman and frequent candidate Ricardo de la Fuente gets 2 percent while 10 percent remain unsure of who they will back.
The poll shows Demings slightly ahead of Rubio. Demings takes 48 percent and Rubio gets 44 percent. Most polls have shown Rubio ahead though recent polls from groups backing Demings have shown the race to be tied.
Rubio has the approval of 37 percent of registered voters while 52 percent disapprove of him. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., garners similar numbers with 37 percent approving of him and 53 percent disapproving of him.
The poll of 1,624 registered voters in Florida was taken from August 8 through August 12 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percent.
