Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) leads Republican challenger Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) by 6 points, according to a new poll from Mason-Dixon out Sunday.
The poll — conducted on behalf of a handful of in-state news organizations — shows Nelson falling just shy of 50 percent, earning the support of 49 percent of likely Florida voters. Mack trails with 43 percent.
A two-term incumbent, Nelson’s seat has been heavily targetted by the GOP in its effort to re-claim control of the Senate and the race has emerged as one of the nastiest of the 2012 cycle. Sunday’s poll indicates that Nelson, who has led consistently throughout the cycle, remains in a strong position to survive his most difficult race since 2000, when he succeeded Mack’s father.
The poll was conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 1 using live phone interviews with likely 800 Florida voters. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
The PollTracker Average shows Nelson a shade above 50 percent and leading Mack by 7 points.
