Poll: Amanda Makki now far-away leader in CD 13 GOP primary

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All of the candidates are struggling with voter recognition.

Amanda Makki is leading the Republican primary for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, according to a new survey from St. Pete Polls.

Makki leads in two metrics — both who voters would vote for if the election were held right now and in favorability.

Asked who they would vote for 28% indicated Makki. The next closest candidate in the five-way field is George Buck with just 21%. Anna Paulina Luna follows with 13%. No other candidate had more than 10% support. In fact, former attorney Sheila Griffin polled at just 4% political newcomer Sharon Newby at just 2%.

There’s still room for growth for the top tier candidates with 33% of respondents indicating they were still unsure.

Of those polled, nearly 90% said they were “absolutely certain” they would vote in the primary with another nearly 7% saying it was likely they would vote.

The high undecided rate is likely fueled by the candidates’ being relatively unknown among voters.

More than half of all respondents said they didn’t know enough about or had never heard of every single candidate in the race to determine whether or not the candidate was favorable.

Makki had the highest favorability rating at 42% and only 8% said she was unfavorable. But 46% said they didn’t know enough about her. Another 4% had never heard of her.

The rest of the pack performed far worse with their connection to voters.

Buck again came in a distant second with a 28% favorability rating compared to just 10% unfavorable. But 60% said they didn’t know enough about him and 3% had never heard of him.

Paulina Luna was even further back with more than 70% of voters polled indicating they didn’t know enough about her (65%) or had never heard of her (6%).

While she polled third in both overall voting intentions and favorability, she came in second to last voter familiarity, with only Newby having more voters who had never heard of her, and dead. Last in her unfavorable rating, the only candidate to have more than 10% of voters indicate they didn’t like the candidate.

That’s a shocking metric considering Paulina Luna has looked like Makki’s most significant competition, aggressively targeting voters and seeking the Trump-arm of the party.

It’s a strategy that, on paper, should work. Among the same voters polled, 87.7% found President Donald Trump favorable, with only 11% indicating the opposite. Only 2% said they didn’t know enough about Trump to form a decision and the number of those who had not heard of them was statistically insignificant at just 0.3%.

Griffin and Newby are non-starters, according to the latest poll. Griffin’s favorability rating was just 11% and Newby’s failed to even crack 10%, at 9%.

The poll’s demographic breakdowns also reveal some telling information about the Republican Party in general, though would probably shock few.

Of the 558 registered Republican voters polled, 510 were white and 477 were 50 and above, lending credence to the notion the GOP is saturated with older white voters. Only 15 respondents were between 18 and 29 and 66 were 30 to 49.

The winner of the GOP primary will take on Democratic incumbent Charlie Crist in the November 3 general election.

Janelle Irwin Taylor

Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay since 2003. Most recently, Janelle reported for the Tampa Bay Business Journal. She formerly served as senior reporter for WMNF News. Janelle has a lust for politics and policy. When she’s not bringing you the day’s news, you might find Janelle enjoying nature with her husband, children and two dogs. You can reach Janelle at [email protected].


5 comments

  • Dan

    July 10, 2020 at 10:23 am

    OMG we always here about Carpet Bagger, DC Swamp Lobbyist & trained professional Liar from the Intel community, Amanda Makki who is a partner of a DC Law Firm and owns properties and business in DC. Former Facebook page stated she is Pro-Choice until her polling and fellow self-serving DC RINOs (who gave her $250,000 up front to invade Pinellas County) informed her it’s not popular in conservative circles. These are the same people who funded Crist in the past. Would this Lobbyist or any Lobbyist represent Pinellas county or the Globalist entity who signed their last or next payola check to her, her family or her partners? Her firm Lobbied against Trump and his Federalist based Supreme Court nominees, so how pro-Trump is she or would we wake up and see her on Morning Joe or making speeches as a fourth member of the AOC Squad or with Mitt & the Lincoln Group.

    • Steve

      July 16, 2020 at 7:54 am

      I’m sorry Dan you have completely mischaracterized Amanda. She is an independent thinker, extremely loyal to the President and a solid vote for life! I have known her for more than 20 years.

      • Owen

        July 20, 2020 at 4:06 pm

        That’s too bad. You have an oxymoron there: independent thinker and extremely loyal. Another brain-washed Trumper, I see.

  • Ben Mallah

    July 13, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    People don’t get it they are too focused on the party instead of the person. Charlie’s heart is with both parties and everyone coming together to make logical good decisions. Too bad he didn’t run for President. He’s not a puppet and cares about everyone. One of the last of politicians that are in office for the right reasons.
    We need some true kind, caring and sensible people in government. Get rid of all of the hidden personal agenda politicians that couldn’t make it in private industry so they milk the system.

    • McHugh

      July 20, 2020 at 4:10 pm

      I’m looking for more than polls. I am not often polled, but when I am, I mix my answers with truth and lies.
      Tell me what the candidate has done in the past. Ask some relevant questions, not wish lists.

Comments are closed.


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