Peter Brown, Assistant Director, Quinnipiac University Polling Institute (203) 535-6203 Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

Public Relations Contact:RELEASE: JUNE 20, 2012 FOR Pat Smith (212) 843-8026

FLORIDA VOTERS BACK VOTER PURGE, STAND YOUR GROUND, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS; GOV. SCOTTS JOB APPROVAL STILL VERY LOW
With wide partisan and racial division, and a small gender gap, Florida voters support 60 35 percent Gov. Rick Scotts effort to purge non-citizens from the states voter rolls, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. There are similar partisan and racial divisions, and a wider gender gap, as Sunshine State voters support 56 37 percent the states Stand Your Ground law, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Gov. Scott, however, is still unpopular with the states electorate, who disapprove 49 39 percent of the job he is doing, compared to a 46 41 percent disapproval May 24, Scotts best score in his 18 months in office. Support for the attempted voter purges is 90 8 percent among Republicans and 59 37 percent among independent voters, while Democrats are opposed 60 33 percent. But unlike the gender split on many major political issues, there is little disagreement among the sexes on the purge: Men support it 63 33 percent while women back it 58 37 percent. White voters back the purge 67 29 percent, while black voters oppose it 56 38 percent and Hispanic voters support it 49 42 percent. Gov. Rick Scott may be a lot less popular in Florida these days than President Barack Obama, but on the face-off between the two on the purge issue, Floridians seem to be solidly in Scotts corner, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Whether this voter purge becomes a big deal issue in the campaign or not is not clear at this point. -more-

Quinnipiac University Poll/June 20 page 2

Support for Floridas Stand Your Ground law is 81 12 percent among Republicans and 55 39 percent among independent voters, with Democrats opposed 60 30 percent. Men back the law 63 33 percent, while women back it 50 40 percent. White voters support it 60 33 percent, while black voters oppose it 59 31 percent. Hispanic voters support the law 58 32 percent. There is solid support for Stand Your Ground among Florida voters, especially Republicans, said Brown. Republican lawmakers, who dominate the State Legislature, would be taking on their own base if they were to change the law. Scotts job approval among Republicans is 71 19 percent. Independent voters give him 52 36 percent thumbs down, while Democrats disapprove overwhelmingly, 75 14 percent. Men disapprove 47 42 percent, while women disapprove 50 35 percent. Florida voters split 37 35 percent when asked if they like Scott as a person and, despite support for the voter purge, voters dont like the governors policies 49 37 percent. Florida voters dont approve of the job Gov. Scott is doing. They dont like his policies, and they are mixed on whether they like him as a person, said Brown. Women especially disapprove and dislike their governor. He has some work to do here. U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio are doing just OK in the eyes of the states voters: Nelson has a 47 32 percent approval rating, while Rubios is 51 31 percent. Voters disapprove 50 31 percent of the job the State Legislature is doing. From June 12 18, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,697 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott is handling his job as Governor? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 39% 49 13 Rep 71% 19 10 Dem 14% 75 12 Ind 36% 52 12 Men 42% 47 11 Wom 35% 50 14 Wht 43% 44 13 Blk 16% 76 9 Hsp 34% 54 12

North/ Panhd Bay Approve Disapprove DK/NA 46% 43 11 36% 53 11

Cntrl 39% 48 13

SthW 50% 32 18

SthE 30% 58 12

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott is handling his job as Governor? APPROVE....... High Low May 24 May 25 2012 2011 41 46 13 29 57 14

Jun 20 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 39 49 13

May 24 2012 41 46 13

Mar 28 2012 36 52 13

Jan 26 2012 36 49 15

Jan 10 2012 38 50 13

16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 31% 50 19 Rep 48% 27 25 Dem 16% 70 14 Ind 28% 53 18 Men 34% 51 15 Wom 28% 49 23 Wht 32% 47 21 Blk 23% 65 12 Hsp 29% 52 19

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job? APPROVE....... High Low Sep 23 May 25 2004 2011 51 34 15 27 56 17

Jun 20 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 31 50 19

May 24 2012 31 48 21

Jan 26 2012 31 49 20

Jan 10 2012 33 49 18

Aug 05 2011 32 51 17

17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Marco Rubio is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 51% 31 18 Rep 84% 6 10 Dem 23% 55 22 Ind 48% 32 20 Men 55% 31 15 Wom 47% 32 21 Wht 55% 28 17 Blk 30% 45 25 Hsp 53% 31 15

North/ Panhd Bay Approve Disapprove DK/NA 57% 23 20 52% 32 16

Cntrl 50% 32 19

SthW 60% 22 18

SthE 42% 40 18

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Marco Rubio is handling his job as United States Senator? APPROVE....... High Low May 23 Feb 03 2012 2011 54 27 19 42 20 37

Jun 20 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 51 31 18

May 23 2012 54 27 19

Jan 26 2012 48 33 20

Jan 10 2012 50 29 21

Nov 11 2011 49 29 22

18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47% 32 21 Rep 25% 54 21 Dem 71% 11 18 Ind 47% 32 22 Men 47% 35 19 Wom 47% 29 24 Wht 43% 36 22 Blk 66% 16 18 Hsp 55% 22 23

North/ Panhd Bay Approve Disapprove DK/NA 43% 39 18 48% 30 22

Cntrl 47% 34 19

SthW 37% 41 23

SthE 53% 21 26

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as United States Senator? (*Low also 42% Aug 2004) APPROVE....... High Low Feb 06 Aug 04 2007 2011* 54 18 28 42 35 23

Jun 20 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 47 32 21

May 24 2012 44 35 21

Jan 26 2012 43 30 27

Jan 10 2012 47 30 23

Nov 11 2011 47 27 26

20. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied? Tot Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 5% 36 34 25 1 Rep 8% 46 27 18 1 Dem 3% 29 36 30 1 Ind 3% 33 38 25 1 Men 7% 38 33 22 Wom 3% 34 35 27 1 Wht 5% 37 34 23 1 Blk 4% 34 33 27 2 Hsp 4% 33 36 27 -

North/ Panhd Bay Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 7% 39 34 19 1 3% 37 30 29 1

Cntrl 5% 37 33 24 -

SthW 6% 43 25 23 2

SthE 3% 29 40 27 -

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied? (*combined High also 63% Sep 2004) VERY+SMWHT.... High Low Feb 24 Sep 22 2005* 2011 15 48 22 15 1 4 31 29 34 2

Jun 20 2012 Very satisfied Smwht satisfied Smwht dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA 5 36 34 25 1

May 24 2012 4 39 30 25 2

Jan 10 2012 4 38 32 24 2

Sep 22 2011 4 31 29 34 2

Aug 05 2011 4 33 28 33 1

23. Regardless of how you feel about Rick Scott's policies, would you say you like or don't like Rick Scott as a person? Tot Like Don't Like DK/NA 37% 35 29 Rep 62% 14 24 Dem 19% 52 29 Ind 34% 38 28 Men 42% 34 25 Wom 32% 36 32 Wht 38% 34 28 Blk 34% 35 32 Hsp 37% 38 26

TREND: Regardless of how you feel about Rick Scott's policies, would you say you like or don't like Rick Scott as a person? Jun 20 2012 Like Don't Like DK/NA 37 35 29 Jan 10 2012 39 34 27 Sep 21 2011 37 37 26 Aug 05 2011 34 45 21

24. And regardless of how you feel about Rick Scott as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Rick Scott's policies? Tot Like Don't Like DK/NA 37% 49 14 Rep 69% 17 13 Dem 10% 76 13 Ind 35% 52 13 Men 41% 46 13 Wom 34% 51 15 Wht 43% 44 13 Blk 14% 76 11 Hsp 33% 48 19

TREND: And regardless of how you feel about Rick Scott as a person, would you say you like or don't like most of Rick Scott's policies? Jun 20 2012 Like Don't Like DK/NA 37 49 14 Jan 10 2012 37 50 13 Sep 21 2011 35 53 12 Aug 05 2011 34 54 12

31. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott is handling the state budget? Tot Approve Disapprove DK/NA 38% 48 14 North/ Panhd 46% 43 11 Rep 64% 22 14 Dem 16% 73 11 Ind 36% 49 15 Men 41% 45 13 Wom 34% 50 15 ANNUAL <30K 32% 51 17 Wht 42% 43 15 Blk 18% 72 10 Hsp 32% 49 19

Approve Disapprove DK/NA

Bay 35% 52 13

Cntrl 40% 48 12

SthW 53% 28 19

SthE 25% 56 19

HOUSEHOLD INCOME.. 30-50 50-100 >100 34% 40% 47% 49 49 44 17 11 9

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Rick Scott is handling the state budget? Jun 20 2012 Approve Disapprove DK/NA 38 48 14 May 24 2012 37 48 14 Jan 10 2012 36 51 13 Sep 21 2011 36 53 11 Aug 05 2011 32 57 11 May 25 2011 30 59 11 Apr 06 2011 36 55 9

32. Do you think the state budget is fair or unfair to people like you? Tot Fair Unfair DK/NA 40% 48 13 Rep 64% 25 12 Dem 20% 71 9 Ind 38% 47 15 Men 48% 41 12 Wom 33% 54 14 ANNUAL <30K 28% 60 12 Wht 46% 40 14 Blk 17% 74 10 Hsp 26% 64 9

Fair Unfair DK/NA

North/ Panhd Bay 44% 43% 45 48 11 9

Cntrl 39% 50 11

SthW 55% 30 16

SthE 30% 54 17

HOUSEHOLD INCOME.. 30-50 50-100 >100 35% 50% 56% 53 39 37 12 11 7

TREND: Do you think the state budget is fair or unfair to people like you? (* "new state budget") Jun 20 2012 Fair Unfair DK/NA 40 48 13 Jan 10 2012 39 48 14 Sep 21 2011 41 48 11 Aug 05 2011* 33 51 16 May 25 2011* 29 54 16

33. Do you think that Florida's economy has gotten better, worse or stayed about the same since Rick Scott took office?

Tot Better Worse The same DK/NA 22% 31 43 4 North/ Panhd 25% 27 46 3

Rep 36% 17 45 2

Dem 10% 44 40 6

Ind 21% 32 44 3

Men 25% 23 49 4

Wom 19% 38 38 5 ANNUAL <30K 17% 35 43 5

Wht 25% 27 44 5

Blk 13% 47 38 2

Hsp 16% 33 47 5

Better Worse The same DK/NA

Bay 23% 30 42 4

Cntrl 22% 33 41 4

SthW 30% 15 51 4

SthE 15% 38 42 5

HOUSEHOLD INCOME.. 30-50 50-100 >100 24% 20% 32% 33 31 21 39 46 43 4 3 4

TREND: Do you think that Florida's economy has gotten better, worse or stayed about the same since Rick Scott took office? Jun 20 2012 Better Worse The same DK/NA 22 31 43 4 May 24 2012 24 29 42 5 Jan 10 2012 16 34 45 4

34a. (If economy better q33) Do you credit Barack Obama or Rick Scott more for this change? ECONOMY BETTER Q33 Tot Men Wom Obama Scott NEITHER (VOL) BOTH (VOL) DK/NA 15% 76 3 1 4 11% 81 4 1 3 20% 71 2 1 5

TREND: (If economy better) Do you credit Barack Obama or Rick Scott more for this change? ECONOMY BETTER........ Jun 20 May 24 Jan 10 2012 2012 2012 Obama Scott NEITHER (VOL) BOTH (VOL) DK/NA 15 76 3 1 4 16 76 3 3 3 13 81 2 1 3

34b. (If economy worse q33) Do you blame Barack Obama or Rick Scott more for this change? ECONOMY WORSE Q33 Tot Men Wom Obama 16% 17% 16% Scott 66 67 65 NEITHER (VOL) 11 11 11 BOTH (VOL) 5 5 5 DK/NA 2 1 3 TREND: (If economy worse) Do you blame Barack Obama or Rick Scott more for this change? ECONOMY WORSE......... Jun 20 May 24 Jan 10

2012 Obama Scott NEITHER (VOL) BOTH (VOL) DK/NA 16 66 11 5 2

2012 20 61 6 8 4

2012 19 65 7 4 4

35. Florida has a law that says a person is legally entitled to fight back with deadly force if they feel threatened, even if they could retreat instead. Do you support or oppose that law? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 56% 37 8 Rep 81% 12 6 Dem 30% 60 10 Ind 55% 39 6 Men 63% 33 4 Wom 50% 40 11 Wht 60% 33 7 Blk 31% 59 9 Hsp 58% 32 10

North/ Panhd Bay Support Oppose DK/NA 64% 27 8 56% 35 9

Cntrl 56% 37 8

SthW 66% 28 6

SthE 45% 48 7

TREND: Florida has a law that says a person is legally entitled to fight back with deadly force if they feel threatened, even if they could retreat instead. Do you support or oppose that law? Jun 20 2012 Support Oppose DK/NA 56 37 8 May 24 2012 56 35 8

36. As you may know, there has been an effort by Governor Scott to remove people from the state's voter rolls who are suspected of not being U.S. citizens. Some people say this effort is needed to prevent voter fraud. Others say this effort is intended to suppress turnout by low-income people and minorities. Do you support or oppose Governor Scott's effort to remove potential non-citizens from the registered voter rolls? Tot Support Oppose DK/NA 60% 35 5 Rep 90% 8 2 Dem 33% 60 7 Ind 59% 37 5 Men 63% 33 4 Wom 58% 37 5 Wht 67% 29 4 Blk 38% 56 6 Hsp 49% 42 9

North/ Panhd Bay Support Oppose DK/NA 64% 32 4 62% 35 4

Cntrl 57% 38 5

SthW 71% 23 6

SthE 56% 38 6