Nelson, Brown, Kaine Lead in Three Key Senate Races

Democratic Senate candidates are leading their Republican rivals in the three major presidential swing states of Florida, Ohio and Virginia, but a new Quinnipiac University poll suggests the race in at least one of the states is still too close to call.

 

In Florida, Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson is maintaining a comfortable lead over Republican challenger, Rep. Connie Mack, by a margin of 52 percent to 39 percent," according to the poll conducted in association with The New York Times and CBS News.

 

The survey taken Oct. 23-28 of more than 3,200 people across the three states, also showed incumbent Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leading Republican state treasurer Josh Mandel by a nine-point margin of 51 percent to 42 percent margin, with independent voters divided 46 percent in favor of Mandel to 44 percent for Brown.

 

Meanwhile, in Virginia, where two former governors are fighting it out for retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Webb's seat, the race is much tighter. Six days out from the election, Democrat Tim Kaine is leading Republican George Allen by 50 percent to 46 percent, but Allen appears to be  closing the gap, making the race too close to call.

 

Two weeks ago, Allen trailed Kaine by a 51 percent to 44 percent margin. The Quinnipiac poll also found that independent voters appear to be breaking towards the Republican by a 56 percent to 38 percent margin.

 

The poll also carried some good news for the Republican governors of Virginia and Ohio. In Virginia, voters approved of the job Gov. Bob McDonnell is doing by 49 percent to 31 percent, while in Ohio, Gov. John Kasich drew good marks on his job performance from 49 percent of voters to 37 percent who viewed him unfavorably.

 

But Florida expressed little support for the job Gov. Rick Scott is doing. The Quinnipiac poll found that voters disapproved of his performance by 45 percent to 39 percent.