Ron DeSantis internal poll shows two-point lead over Andrew Gillum

DeSantis 3

An internal poll shows Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis holding a two-point edge over Democrat Andrew Gillum heading into a CNN debate Sunday evening.

The new poll shows DeSantis at 47 percent, with Gillum at 45 percent and another 7 percent of voters unsure.

A memo from Susie Wiles, DeSantis for Governor campaign chair, said pollsters surveyed potential voters over three consecutive nights in advance of the debate.

“This survey included over 2,000 live interviews with a projected universe reflecting a historic midterm election turnout among Democratic and women voters,” Wiles wrote.

“In short, this assumes a challenging electoral scenario for Republicans, but one we are presently rising above. We currently show Ron with a 47 percent – 45 percent lead. Ron’s lead is larger at +7 percent among voter that have already cast vote by mail ballots.”

The strong ballot share matches somewhat with other polling. A St. Pete Polls survey released this week, for example, showed Gillum with a slight 47-46 lead on DeSantis, but showed DeSantis up 49-45 among those who already voted.

The new DeSantis poll shows a similar difference in results among those who already voted compared to the electorate at large. And the poll, taken entirely after the polling period for the St. Pete Polls survey, indicates a shift toward the Republican nominee.

“As you can see, this news is encouraging and continues to show the momentum we are seeing,” Wiles wrote.

And while internal polls sometimes draw skepticism, it may be worth noting that an internal from DeSantis in July offered some of the first indications the Republican primary had turned around. DeSantis ultimately defeated one-time frontrunner Adam Putnam and secured the nod.

DeSantis and Gillum will face each other tonight in front of an audience at the WEDU Studios in Tampa, the first time the pair will share a stage for the debate since winning their respective party nominations.

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


8 comments

  • Rick Fernandez

    October 21, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    This is a propaganda rag … Fox lite …
    Many Gillum voters appear on no call sheet. They are first time voters … off radar … but VERY engaged.

    • Nordonia Nate

      October 21, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Ricky… Too funny… You didn’t say that when Gillum was ahead..

  • Mike

    October 21, 2018 at 3:16 pm

    That is strange I checked a CNN Poll that showed
    Gillum up by 12 points today!

    • Nordonia Nate

      October 21, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Shocker !!!! 12 points!! lol…. At least make the bullshiest believable…

    • Jaxrolo

      October 22, 2018 at 7:58 am

      CNN!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA

  • Billie Sutton

    October 21, 2018 at 6:26 pm

    I like it how they don’t even name the pollster involved.Very reliable.

  • Jani

    October 22, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    Gillum has been ahead the whole time

Comments are closed.


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