Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
The race for the U.S. Senate continue to be close, with a new poll showing just two points separate Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Patrick Murphy.
A new Monmouth University survey showed Rubio is at 47 percent, while Murphy is at 45 percent. The survey of 400 likely Florida voters has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.
The survey found many voters didn’t know much about Murphy, a Treasure Coast Democrat. When asked their opinion of Murphy, 59 percent of respondents said they had no opinion. The poll found 27 percent had a favorable opinion, while 13 percent had an unfavorable view.
Floridians also have a mixed reaction to Rubio, with 37 percent saying they had a favorable opinion of the Miami Republican. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they had an unfavorable opinion, while 27 percent said they had no opinion.
As for why Rubio decided to run for re-election, 59 percent of respondents said he got in the race to improve his chances for a future presidential run. The survey found 22 percent said he did it to serve the public.
That isn’t to say Floridians don’t approve of the work he’s doing in the U.S. Senate. The poll found 46 percent of respondents said they approved of the job he’s doing, while 38 percent said they disapproved.
The U.S. Senate race is one of the most closely watched races in the country, and many believe it could decide control of the Senate. Outside groups are pouring millions into the race, and on Tuesday the Senate Leadership Fund launched a $10.8 million fall TV campaign taking aim at Murphy. Groups backing Murphy, including the AFL-CIO, have also launched advertising campaigns.
