Alex Sink Leads Rick Scott In Poll Taken Before Primary

A day after a tough primary in Florida in which Rick Scott emerged as the Republican gubernatorial nominee, a new poll released on Wednesday shows Democrat Alex Sink with a lead over Scott and independent Bud Chiles.

Conducted by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm that uses automated technology, the poll shows Sink leading Scott 41%-34%, with Chiles receiving 8% of the vote. The poll was conducted before the primary, from August 21-22, among 567 likely voters. The poll's margin of error is 4.1%.

The Republican primary battle may have hurt the chances of either Scott or Bill McCollum, as both received negative ratings from voters. While 49% of voters surveyed had an unfavorable opinion of Scott, only 28% viewed him favorably. Similarly, McCollum was viewed favorably by 25% and unfavorably by 54%. Sink received better ratings - 35% viewed her favorably while only 23% viewed her unfavorably, but 43% were unsure of their views of Sink.

Had McCollum emerged as the nominee, he likewise would have been facing an uphill battle against Sink. In a general election match-up, 39% said they would vote for Sink compared to 31% for McCollum and 12% for Chiles.