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Florida Adults Split on Do-Over Primary: Dems Favor, GOP Opposed
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Sixty-three percent (63%) of Florida Democrats favor a “do-over” Presidential Primary in their state. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 28% of Democrats are opposed.

Republicans in the state have the opposite reaction—66% are opposed to another Primary while 25% support the idea.

Overall, Florida adults are evenly divided on the proposal--44% favor the concept and 45% are opposed. Governor Charlie Crist, a Republican, has said he will sign legislation authorizing a Primary if the Democratic Party will cover the costs.

Later this morning, Rasmussen Reports will release data showing a first look at how Clinton and Obama might fare if a second Presidential Primary is held.

Florida held a Presidential Primary on January 29. The Republican Primary played a key role in John McCain’s effort to win the nomination. On the Democratic side, however, the situation has been much more controversial and is emerging as a key issue in the heated rivalry between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

The Florida Primary was held earlier than allowed by Democratic Party rules. As a result, the Democratic National Committee ruled that no delegates could be awarded as a result of that Primary. The candidates agreed not to campaign in the state but their names were on the ballot and Clinton won a lopsided victory by roughly 300,000 votes. Because the contest between Clinton and Obama is so close, the Florida delegate issue may play a critical role in determining the Democratic Party nominee.

Governor Crist recently called for the Florida votes to be counted. The survey found that 56% of adults say the Crist is doing a good or an excellent job. Just 13% say he is doing a poor job while 29% offer a more neutral assessment and say he is doing a fair job.

Those numbers are better than the President’s--46% say that George W. Bush is doing a poor job. Just 36% say he is doing a good or an excellent job.

A Rasmussen Reports analysis notes that the race for the nomination is now all about the Super Delegates who will have to decide between Obama and Clinton It is possible, especially if the Florida votes are counted, that Obama could win a majority of the pledged delegates while Clinton wins a majority of the popular vote. That would make life especially difficult for the Superdelegates.

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

The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.

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