Poll: Dade Mayor Leads In Re-Election Bid But Needs To Boost Support

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez holds an 18-percentage point lead in his re-election bid, a new poll shows.

According to our news partners at the Miami Herald, the public-opinion poll shows the Republican mayor is ahead of his two rivals - Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado and political newcomer Alfred Santamaría.

In the poll conducted by Associated Industries of Florida, Gimenez drew 40 percent support while Regalado got 22 percent and Santamaria only 4 percent.

Gimenez would need 50 percent plus 1 in the August 30th election to avoid a run-off in November.

While Gimenez is leading the race, according to the poll, he also needs to bolster support among traditional Democratic voters to win - particularly African Americans. That's where his support is weakest.

The company polled 600 likely voters from May 21st to 25th. It has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Click here for more on the poll.

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