Money trumps experience in office for two statewide races.
Rick Scott leads Bill McCollum 43-32 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll of the Republican governor's race out this morning.
The same poll also has Jeff Greene ahead of Kendrick Meek 33-23 percent in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
ADVERTISEMENT 
|
|
Attorney General McCollum and U.S. Rep. Meek were early front-runners in their respective races but have been overtaken by wealthy businessmen Scott and Greene. The outsiders have used their own riches to outspend the veteran elected officials.
"If there was any doubt that enough money can make a political unknown into a front-runner, the Democratic Senate primary and the Republican primary for governor should lay them to rest," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a release.
Both races may yet be decided by voters who remain undecided ahead of the Aug. 24 primary. The Qunnipiac poll showed 23 percent undecided in the governor's race. In the Senate contest, 35 percent are undecided.
The poll, conducted 22-27, has a 3.6-point margin of error in the Republican primary and a 3.5-point error margin in the Democratic primary.
A wave of sentiment against those who hold office now may be hurting McCollum and Meek.
"Both (Scott and Greene) also are being helped by the national anti-incumbent, anti-establishment wave evident in other primaries," Brown said.