Sunburn – The Morning Read Of What’s Hot In Florida Politics – 5.18.21

By Peter Schorsch    

President Joe Biden is above water in Jacksonville, but “Blu-Val” cheers might be premature.

A new poll conducted by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found the President with a plus-3 approval rating in the county, 49%-46%.

Views were split along party lines, with 61% of Democrats saying they strongly approve of the President and 78% of Republicans saying they strongly disapprove.

While Biden’s numbers are good, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ numbers were better.

The first-term Republican has 50% support in Duval while 43% disapprove. His job approval rating is markedly improved from six months ago when he registered 42% support.

Again, the results were polarized. More than two-thirds of Democrats strongly disapprove of DeSantis, while 76% of Republicans strongly approve.

Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried, meanwhile, scored a plus-20 approval rating — far higher than the President or Governor. But the top line obscures the number of voters who have no clue who the top statewide Democrat is. She garnered 37% approval, 17% disapproval, while a whopping 46% said they didn’t know.

The poll was conducted online May 11-16. It has a sample size of 1,263 registered voters in Duval County and a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

Tweet, tweet:

—@MarcACaputo: What makes (Joel) Greenberg’s case so unusual is the scope of crimes he pleaded guilty to, making him one of the most corrupt Florida politicians of all time. With such a record of rank dishonesty, his testimony alone is not enough for the feds to indict (Matt) Gaetz

—@NoahPransky: Here’s the thing @mattgaetz gets … he could be the 2nd-most powerful man in the GOP within a year. B/c anything short of a trafficking conviction — regardless of all the evidence — allows him to claim “full exhortation” and become the new face of (Donald) Trumpism.

—@ChrisSprowls: We stand with the Israeli people and our Jewish brothers and sisters. Israel has continued to demonstrate a willingness to make peace. Hamas is testing the new administration. We must all stand against terror, for Israel, and for peace.

—@Fred_Guttenburg: A personal message to the nasty progressives who are telling me to “stay in my lane” & saying, “I used to support you, but now I can’t,” that is OK. What is not OK are some of the comments directed at me because I am a Jewish person. Let me be clear. I am not a political person & not looking for support. As someone with family & friends in Israel throughout my life, including now, I am well aware of the terror that they face daily. I am also well aware of the plight of the Palestinian people. I am entitled to and will share my opinions.’

—@MDixon55: These gaming meetings might also uncloak a universal truth of lawmaking in Tallahassee: Members don’t really know what’s in the bills