Poll: Voters Down on Rick Scott, Optimistic About Florida's Future

Florida voters aren’t in love with the job Gov. Rick Scott is doing, but it’s not harming their optimism in regard to the state’s future.

Those are the findings of a new poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University.

The poll found only 42 percent of respondents approved of Scott’s performance while 47 percent gave the governor poor marks.

Despite negative feelings about Scott’s ability on the job, voters told Quinnipiac pollsters they were overall rather optimistic about the next four years. A total of 53 percent of respondents said they were optimistic about what’s to come with Scott at the Sunshine State’s helm. Some 39 percent said they were not.

“Florida Gov. Rick Scott has never been popular,” Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll pointed out in a media release. “He spent virtually his entire first term with a negative job approval and was reelected by the narrowest of margins.”

Being “underwater with voters” is a normal state of affairs for Scott, he added.

“But it doesn’t matter because the one time he had more supporters than opponents was when it counted – on Election Day,” Brown said. “Even though Florida voters have a negative view of him, they are optimistic about the next four years with him in control.”

Meanwhile, both of the state’s U.S. Senators received positive marks from respondents. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio received a job approval rating of 47 percent while 35 percent weren’t impressed with his performance. Some 44 percent said he deserves reelection next year. Democrat Bill Nelson gets a 43 percent job approval rating while 26 percent were not pleased with his performance, the poll revealed.

So, Tampa Bay, what do you think? Do you agree that Gov. Scott’s job performance stands room for improvement or do you think he’s on course? Tell us by commenting below!

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