Polling Shows Edge for Rep. West in Florida Congressional Race

Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., continues to hold a lead over Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy in the latest round of polls.

A new Sunshine State News Poll of 752 likely voters found West leading by one point, 49 to 48 percent. Other recent polls have shown a wider spread favoring West. Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers had West leading 51 to 42 percent and S.PetePolls.org had West ahead 52 to 40 percent.

Jim Lee, president of Voter Survey Service that conducted the Sunshine State News poll, told the website, “It’s our understanding that other publicly released polling has been all over the lot on this race — some showing Murphy leading, others showing West in the hunt — so this one seems to show the truth could be closer to a dead heat.”

Lee added that both candidates have high negatives, “presumably because the ads have been so nasty, with mudslinging on competing criminal charges for both. It’s hard to make the case that either has much room to grow when voters are so polarized on their candidates.”