As the U.S. Senate Race between incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and Republican U.S. Congressman Connie Mack IV heats up, political experts say it’s really a battle about which party controls the Senate chamber.
USF Political Scientist Susan MacManus says if President Barack Obama is re-elected, it’s critical that incumbent Senator Bill Nelson wins the Florida Senate Race. She says that was one of the rallying points, during Tuesday’s kickoff breakfast for the Florida delegates at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina.
“Because they expect President Obama to be re-elected and he needs to work with a Democratic Senate, and of course, Bill Nelson’s race is one of those Senate race’s that’s up for re-election this year," said McManus. So, it’s very, very important.”
A recent poll by Public Policy Polling shows Nelson with a 7-point lead over Connie Mack, 45 to 38, but it also shows both have low approval ratings overall with Florida voters.