MASON-DIXON POLL SHOWS HARRIS STILL LAGS BEHIND NELSON

The latest poll numbers are out in the U.S. Senate race.

A survey by Mason Dixon Polling & Research, conducted by phone with 625 likely voters throughout Florida June 14-16 for Tampa's Media General news properties (WFLA-TV 8 and The Tampa Tribune), is showing that if the election were held today and was between Congresswoman Katherine Harris and incumbant Democrat Bill Nelson, an unusually large number of Republicans would support Nelson.

Overall, 53 percent of respondants said they would vote for Nelson, with 36 percent saying they would support Harris. But among Republicans, only 69 percent said they would vote for Harris, which is well below the level of support for Governor Jeb Bush or his brother, the President, in their elections. The margin of error is plus/minus four percent.

The percentage of voters with an unfavourable opinion of the Sarasota congresswoman --- 30 percent --- is actually three points higher than it was two years ago, her first year in Congress. Only ten percent of those surveyed say they have an unfavourable opinion of Nelson.

The incumbant leads Harris in every region of the state, including North Florida, which has skewed heavily for the GOP in recent elections. Nelson's lead in the Gulf Coast region --- Harris' home area --- is seven percent.

These results should be reason for concern among Republicans, and should spur more interest to those seeking another candidate, such as state House Speaker Alan Bense or Senate President Tom Lee.