In the U.S. Senate race, Florida Incumbent Marco Rubio leads Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy by only three points, which is within the margin of error for the most recent . Rubio's also ahead of his other Democratic opponent, Alan Grayson, by six points.
鈥淭he latest Quinnipiac poll finds that the Florida Senate race is a dead heat," says the poll's assistant director Peter Brown. "When Senator Marco Rubio is matched against Congressman Patrick Murphy, Mr. Rubio has 48 percent. Forty-five percent (is) for Congressman Murphy. That鈥檚 a three percent difference, and that鈥檚 within the margin of error of the poll.鈥�
Brown attributes Rubio鈥檚 slight lead to his support among independent voters.
鈥淢r. Rubio is in the position he鈥檚 in because he鈥檚 winning independent voters by 10 points, which is a significant number of votes," he says. "That鈥檚 putting him where he is. If he were not doing as well among independents, Mr. Rubio would have more potential problems.鈥�
Brown also says Rubio may be running against his own party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump, at this point in the campaign.
The poll-which surveys the key swing states Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania-finds all incumbent, Republican senators are running better than Trump.
However, Brown says if Trump continues to lag behind in the presidential race, that would logically make it more difficult for other GOP candidates.
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