A poll released from Quinnipiac University found that Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson faces challenges as he seeks a third term in the Senate in 2012.

Despite being on the Florida political stage for decades, Nelson could only muster the support of 44 percent who thought that he deserved a third term. A third of those surveyed -- 33 percent -- believed Nelson did not deserve another term. Forty-five percent of all voters approved of the job Nelson was doing in Washington, while 32 percent disapproved of his performance.

Nelson also failed to break 50 percent when matched against a generic Republican. Nelson took 43 percent against the Republican who took 34 percent. The four leading candidates for the Republican nomination looking to take on Nelson will clash on Friday at forums at the Republican Party of Florida’s Presidency 5 event and at the American Conservative Union’s Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando -- and the poll showed the stakes will be high.

A clear majority of Republicans -- 58 percent -- remained undecided on whom they were backing to take on Nelson. Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux took 17 percent in the poll. Businessman and retired Army Col. Mike McCalister followed with 11 percent. Former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner and Central Florida businessman Craig Miller took 5 percent each.

“Given that both President Obama and Senator Nelson are underwater in the Sunshine State, it’s clear why Florida’s senior senator has stayed silent on the president’s latest stimulus plan,” said Jahan Wilcox, a spokesman for the National Republican Senate Committee, on Thursday. “But no amount of election-cycle posturing will distract voters next year from Bill Nelson’s 21-year record in Washington of cutting Medicare, raising taxes and driving our government debt to record levels, while failing to address the jobs crisis in Florida and around the country.”

The poll of 1,007 registered voters was taken from Sept. 14-19 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. The sample of 374 Republicans had a margin of error of +/- 5.1 percent.

 

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or (850) 727-0859.