Poll shows Floridians warming to offshore drilling

Florida voters warming to drilling, poll finds

Good news for pro-drilling forces: The latest Quinnipiac University poll of battleground states finds that 60 percent of likely voters in Florida support allowing drilling for oil and gas in areas offshore that are now protected.

By party, 86 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of Democrats support it.

Opponents are sure to take issue with the way the question was worded: "To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas offshore?"

By the U.S. Energy Department's admission, it would take a decade to begin producing oil or natural gas, and the impact on prices is expected to be small.