FL/Quinnipiac: Nelson with huge leads over opponents

[cinyc]

It's understandable why his approvals are so high when the other option is someone from the party of Rick Scott.

You mean the party of Marco Rubio, right?  Rubio's  favorables are just as high as Nelson's.

[cinyc]

Rubio hasn't been making any headlines recently, though.  That's what counts.

Not being a governor and, therefore, not having to do unpopular stuff during a recession is more important these days.  With a few notable exceptions (Cuomo), most governors' approval ratings are underwater - though most not as bad as Scott's. 

[cinyc]

So there you go.  Regardless that this is an election for the same type of office that Rubio occupies, it's Rick Scott currently leading the GOP banner in Florida right now.  Ergo, Nelson's approvals are solid.

I've always argued that coattails are overrated.   Coattails of people who aren't on the ballot don't even exist.  

You're making far too much out of any governor, especially one who will not be on the ballot in 2012.  Nelson and his opponent will rise and fall on their own, due to federal issues, not state issues.  The idea that voters can't differentiate between candidates and don't understand federalism makes very little sense.