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Florida Voters Give Governor DeSantis Mixed Grades, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Nearly 6 In 10 Don't Want DeSantis To Run For President In 2024

With Florida currently struggling with one of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the country, slightly more than half of voters (51 percent) disapprove of Governor Ron DeSantis' handling of the response to the coronavirus, while 46 percent approve, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in Florida released today. However, this is an improvement from July 2020, when 57 percent of voters disapproved and 38 percent approved.

In today's poll, Republicans approve 85 - 9 percent of the way DeSantis is handling the response to the coronavirus, while Democrats disapprove 93 - 6 percent and independents disapprove 55 - 43 percent.

When it comes to the way DeSantis is handling the public schools, voters give DeSantis a negative 44 - 51 percent approval rating.

On DeSantis' overall job performance, voters are divided with 47 percent approving and 45 percent disapproving of the way he's handling his job as governor. In July 2020, they gave him a negative 41 - 52 percent job approval rating.

"Amid a frightening surge in cases, DeSantis weathers withering criticism from critics on his handling of COVID-19. His numbers have actually improved from a year ago. But he's still not as popular as he was before the pandemic," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

APPROVALS

Voters in Florida give President Joe Biden a negative 40 - 53 percent job approval rating. On his handling of the response to the coronavirus, they give Biden a mixed grade, with 47 percent approving and 49 percent disapproving.

Florida voters give Senator Rick Scott a mixed job approval rating, as 42 percent approve, 40 percent disapprove, and 18 percent did not offer an opinion.

Senator Marco Rubio receives a positive approval rating, as 49 percent approve, 38 percent disapprove, and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.

"Florida's voters approve less of the president's overall job performance than they do of his handling of the pandemic. On the other hand, Rubio gets decent numbers from voters heading into 2022, but is just shy of the more comfortable 50% mark," added Malloy.

POLITICAL FUTURES

Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio are up for reelection in 2022.

Voters are split on whether Ron DeSantis deserves to be reelected, as 48 percent say he does and 45 percent say he does not, with 6 percent not offering an opinion. Republicans say 87 - 8 percent that DeSantis deserves to be reelected, while Democrats say 90 - 4 percent that he does not deserve to be reelected. Forty-nine percent of independents say that he deserves to be reelected, while 43 percent say he does not.

When it comes to Marco Rubio, voters say 47 - 41 percent that he deserves to be reelected, with 13 percent not offering an opinion. Republicans say 77 - 13 percent that Rubio deserves to be reelected, while Democrats say 74 - 15 percent he does not deserve to be reelected. Forty-six percent of independents say that he deserves to be reelected, while 40 percent say he does not.

Voters say 59 - 35 percent that they would not like to see Ron DeSantis run for president in 2024. Republicans say 67 - 24 percent that they would like to see DeSantis run for president, while Democrats say 96 - 2 percent and independents say 61 - 35 percent that they would not like to see him run for president.

"Do Florida voters want to send DeSantis back to Tallahassee? It's a tossup. But 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is, for now, just not in the cards," added Malloy.

SATISFACTION

A majority of voters (57 percent) say they are either very satisfied (30 percent) or somewhat satisfied (27 percent) with the way things are going in Florida today. Forty-one percent say they are either somewhat dissatisfied (15 percent) or very dissatisfied (26 percent).

This compares to March 2019, when satisfaction levels hit an all-time high with 67 percent either very or somewhat satisfied and 30 percent somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Voters say 51 - 44 percent that they think climate change is going to have a significant negative effect on Florida in their lifetimes. In March 2019, voters were split on the issue, with 45 percent saying climate change would have a significant negative effect and 48 percent saying it would not.

A majority of voters (55 percent) say Governor DeSantis needs to do more to address rising sea levels, while 30 percent say he is doing enough, and 15 percent did not offer an opinion.

Over half of voters (52 percent) also say Governor DeSantis needs to do more to protect the Everglades, while 35 percent say he is doing enough, and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.

889 self-identified registered voters in Florida were surveyed from August 17th - 21st with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on random samples of adults using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.

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