Survey: Florida voters prioritize inflation over abortion at the polls
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Floridians are voting with their pocketbooks this time around, citing inflation, jobs and the economy as far more important issues than immigration, abortion, or gun violence.
Why it matters: According to a USF survey of 600 likely voters released yesterday, inflation has negatively affected the lives of most Floridians and they're carrying financial anxieties to the polls.
- The survey was conducted Oct. 14-23, just before early voting started.
State of play: 80% of likely voters here who make an income say their wages have not kept up with the rising costs of goods and services in the past year.
- And 67% of all likely voters say they have less money available for a personal emergency than a year ago.
- Just 7% report having more emergency money than they did a year ago.
The intrigue: When asked who was most responsible for inflation, more than a third said they blame the Biden administration.
- Nearly a fifth blame COVID-19.
- 11% say the war in Ukraine.
- More than 8% blamed "something else."
Of note: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state government weren't offered as answers.
The latest: More than 3 million Floridians had cast ballots by mail or voted early as of yesterday morning, per the state Department of Elections.
- Republicans were outpacing Democrats 1.29 million to 1.15 million votes cast.
Between the lines: More than half a million voters with no party affiliation have cast votes, and an additional 576,923 ballots mailed to NPA voters have not been returned.
- Polls have suggested a tight governor's race will come down to a small segment of persuadable, undecided senior voters.