New poll shows Marco Rubio, Jeff Atwater lead Dems in 2016 Florida Senate race

Marco Rubio looks to be in good shape for his re-election chances for the U.S. Senate next year, at least against South Florida Democratic U.S. Reps. Patrick Murphy and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

A Mason-Dixon poll released Tuesday shows Rubio with double digit leads over both Democrats. Against Murphy, he’s on top 50% to 38%. Against Wasserman Schultz, it’s 53% to 36%.

If his presidential aspirations take off, though, Rubio may very well not run for re-election. If that’s the case, Mason Dixon shows that one possible Republican nominee, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, also leading both Democrats. Against Murphy, Atwater is on top 46% to 32%. Against Wasserman Schultz, the numbers are closer, but Atwater still leads, 45% to 35%.

Atwater has been prominently mentioned as a potential GOP nominee. He was recently observed in Washington, D.C., speaking to officials with the National Republican Senate Committee.

However,  Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi would defeat Atwater in a GOP primary, according to a Gravis Marketing Poll published last week.

Other Florida Republicans bandied about as possible Senate candidates include Adam Putnam and Will Weatherford.

Other Democrats in the mix include Alan Grayson and Kathy Castor.

In the poll, 800 registered Florida voters were interviewed statewide by telephone. The margin for error is no more than ±3.5 percentage points.