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Poll: Sen. Nelson Leads Mack By Just Three Points

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – If Senator Bill Nelson was expecting an easy road back to the Senate in 2012, it looks like he's in for a lot more than he bargained for with Republican Connie Mack.

According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, a new Herald poll found Nelson was leading Rep. Mack by just three percent, 45-42 in a hypothetical matchup for the Florida Senate seat. Still, thirteen percent remain undecided, according to the poll.

Mack entered the Republican Senate race late, but immediately vaulted to the top of a list that includes Adam Hasner and former Senator George LeMieux among others.

In a scene straight out of the movie the Distinguished Gentleman, 31 percent of voters have a favorable impression of Connie Mack, but there's no way to tell if voters are thinking of his father or the younger Republican.

Among the Republican field, Mack leads LeMieux 38-12 percent. Mike McCalister is in third place with 7 percent, Hasner has 4 percent in fourth place, and Craig Miller rounded out the field with one percent. But, 38 percent of the GOP voters are undecided.

Senator Nelson is easily outraising all of the other candidates. According to his office, Nelson has $8.5 million in the bank and collected $1.4 million in the final three months of 2011.

Mack's office reported he has raised $750,000 since announcing his candidacy for the seat.

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