Big gender gap in tight governor races in Florida, Connecticut

HAMDEN, Conn., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Governors are locked in tight races for another term in Connecticut and Florida, with women more likely to choose the Democrat.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, and former Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican turned Democrat, are in a dead heat with 42 percent of likely voters each, a Quinnipiac Poll released Wednesday said.

Women prefer Crist by 45 percent to 39 percent for Scott. Among men, Scott gets 46 percent and Crist 38 percent.

In Connecticut, the gender gap is far larger. More than half of female respondents prefer the incumbent Democrat, Gov. Dannel Malloy, with 32 percent for his opponent, Republican Tom Foley. That is flipped among men, who go for Foley 53-34.

Malloy and Foley were the candidates in 2010, when the Democrat won a close race. Quinnipiac found the two are in a statistical 43-42 tie.

In Florida, the poll found voters dislike both candidates, with Crist slightly less unpopular.

"When the campaign began, everyone talked about how unusual the Florida governor's race would be because two governors, incumbent Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist, were facing off," said Peter A. Brown,the poll's assistant director, "But, as it enters the home stretch, it's just like many other races across the country: There is a sizable gender gap; tens of millions are being spent on negative TV ads and there is a dead heat in which neither candidate has an edge."

Connecticut voters are also unhappy with both candidates.

"The other bad news for Tom Foley is that his favorability rating continues to tumble," Douglas Schwartz, the poll's director, said. "For the first time, more voters have a negative view of him than a positive view. The more voters get to know him, the less they like him. The good news for Foley is that Malloy's favorability is actually slightly worse."