Senate President Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach, the Republican candidate for state CFO, won two straw polls in the last week.

Atwater took 76 percent of the straw poll held at the Winter Park Political Mingle on July 20 while former Rep. Loranne Ausley, the Democratic nominee, pulled 17 percent. Independent candidate Tom Stearns took 5 percent and Ken Mazzie, who is also running without party affiliation, took 2 percent.

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando straw poll held on July 27 was a bit closer. Atwater had 44 percent, Ausley took 26 percent, Stearns won 9 percent and Mazzie stood at 4 percent.

The Atwater campaigners said the results were a good sign for future success in November.

"Both events were held in Central Florida, a region critical to statewide success," said Brian Hughes, who serves as Atwater‘s communications director. "These victories make it clear that Jeff Atwater's message of smaller government, stopping fraud and waste, and supporting the entrepreneurs who create jobs is being embraced by the small-business leaders who will lead our state's economic recovery."