Hotline On Call

A clear majority of Florida voters disapproves of President Obama's job performance, and Obama trails former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney by eight points in the key swing state, according to a new Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll released late Thursday.

Only 41 percent of Florida voters approve of the president's performance in office, with 56 percent disapproving. His disapproval rating is up five points since the firm's last poll in April. Obama's approval rating with independents is just 36 percent, with 55 percent disapproving.

Romney holds a comfortable 51 to 43 percent lead over President Obama, but Texas Gov. Rick Perry runs evenly with the president, with a 46 to 45 percent advantage. Rep. Michele Bachmann also is competitive with Obama, trailing 46 to 44 percent.

The poll's findings are similar to Qunnipiac, which conducted polling in Florida earlier this month. Quinnipiac pegged Obama's approval rating in the state at 44 percent.

In the Republican presidential race, the poll found Romney leading Perry in Florida, 28 to 21 percent, with Bachmann in third at 13 percent. Businessman Herman Cain tallied seven percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had five percent, and four percent backed Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Not a single respondent supported former Utah governor Jon Huntsman.