Florida Latin Connection

For Florida voters, Democratic Sen.Bill Nelson holds a place similar to the one that bassist Derek Smallsoccupies in Spinal Tap. 

Smalls, played by Harry Shearer in the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, described himself as “kind of like lukewarm water.”

Shearer as Smalls

A new poll by Democratic outfit Public Policy Pollingsays two-term incumbent Nelson has a 38 percent approval rating and a 31 percent disapproval score. Surprisingly for a figure who’s held one public office or another in Florida for most of the last 39 years, some 31 percent of Florida voters say they don’t have an opinion of him.

The poll shows Nelson with double-digit leads over any of the three leading Republicans vying to challenge him in 2012:Adam Hasner (Nelson leads 47-35), Mike Haridopolos(Nelson up 47-35) or George LeMieux (Nelson ahead 46-35). Each of the Republicans is unknown by at least 66 percent of voters.

Says PPP’s Tom Jensen: “That approval number in the 30s is enticing for Republicans but it’s largely because Democrats who will vote for him anyway aren’t in love with him- and when you combine that with pretty solid numbers with independents and GOP voters, it’s a formula for reelection.

PostPolitics/ Bennett/ 06/30/2011

Sen. Bill Nelson: Lukewarm approval, high unkowns, double-digit lead

Florida Latin Connection/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor

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