Senator Bill Nelson

Florida's gubernatorial race may be competitive and fluid, but there is still scant movement in the lopsided race for U.S. Senate here.

Support for Republican Congresswoman Katherine Harris, the likely GOP nominee whom so many top Republicans have asked to step aside, remains static in the new Rasmussen Reports election poll. But Senator Bill Nelson has added a point to his massive lead to now trounce Harris 61% to 33% among likely voters (see crosstabs).

Even among Republicans voters, 34% say they prefer Senator Nelson.

Harris's bid suffered another blow in mid-July when three top staffers resigned—the second round of such high-level departures in the campaign—and then promptly complained to the press about her management style.

Harris is viewed favorably by 40% of all voters, 58% of GOP voters. She is viewed unfavorably by 49% of all voters; 34% view her "very" unfavorably, and 53% of Democrats view her "very" unfavorably.

Senator Nelson is viewed favorably by 63% of all voters, including 55% of the GOP and 72% of Democrats.

The economy and immigration top the list of issues most important to Florida voters, though national security and the war in Iraq are not far behind.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of Florida voters say the political system is "badly broken."

Crosstabs are available to Premium Members.

Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.

Visit our Election Polls page to see a summary of our latest state-by state polling. Rasmussen Reports is polling every Senate and Governors' race at least once a month this year. We also update the President's Job Approval on a daily basis.

Rasmussen Reports was the nation's most accurate polling firm during the Presidential election and the only one to project both Bush and Kerry's vote total within half a percentage point of the actual outcome.

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Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.