The second poll released in the space of a week suggests that it would be a mighty interesting race if Florida Gov. Rick Scott, R, were to challenge three-term Sen. Bill Nelson, D, in 2018. Mason-Dixon finds that Nelson, at 46 percent, holds a modest early lead over Scott, who draws 41 percent support.

An earlier poll by the University of North Florida found a similar 44 to 38 percent result in testing the hypothetical but perhaps likely matchup between the three-term incumbent senator and the term-limited governor. This poll, like that one, was conducted in the second half of February.