Poll: Obama Lags In The Sunshine State

As the 2012 election season unfolds, President Barack Obama is off to a rocky start in Florida.

According to a new poll from Quinnipiac University, 57 percent of the state’s voters disapprove of the President’s performance, while only 39 percent approve.

In addition, only 41 percent of the state’s voters say the President deserves re-election and 53 percent say he does not.

Obama’s poor showing is matched by improving numbers for GOP frontrunner Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. In a 2012 matchup, Obama holds a diminishing lead over the Texas governor with 42-44 percent, a shift from his wider 44 to 39 percent lead in early August . If going up against Romney, Obama lags by 47 to 40 percent, a similar decline from the previous poll, which put the two in a 44 to 44 percent tie.

Currently, Perry outshines Romney in the sunshine state by 28 to 22 percent. However, if Sarah Palin confirms that she will not enter the 2012 race, Perry stands to garner more support. An exit from the former Alaska Governor sees Perry’s lead jump to 31 to 22 percent.

The poll was conducted among 1,007 registered Florida voters between September 14^th and the 19^th.