OPA-LOCKA-- State Representative Willie Logan's "long shot" bid for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat moved a lot closer to reality with the announcement that he has moved into double digits in the most recent statewide poll.

In a statewide survey conducted October 26-27 by Florida Business United, Logan, who is running as an independent, received 13% of the vote in a three-way race involving Republican Bill McCollum and Democrat Bill Nelson. In a three-way race with Tom Gallagher as the Republican candidate and Democrat Bill Nelson, Logan gets 10% of the vote.

In an earlier poll commissioned by the Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times and released to the public on November 7, 1999, Logan carried just 6% of the vote in a three-way race with Bill Nelson (D) and Tom Gallagher (R), and carried 7% of the vote in a three-way race involving Nelson and Bill McCollum (R). Logan's new standing at 13% in the Florida Business United poll shows that he is clearly picking up momentum.

This latest survey showed that in a two-way contest between Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Bill McCollum, Nelson would claim 47% of the vote against McCollum's 31%, with 20% still undecided. However, inserting Willie Logan into the contest, Logan takes roughly 7-8% of the vote away from Nelson and 6% away from McCollum. In a two-way contest against Republican Tom Gallagher, Nelson would claim 39% of the vote against Gallagher's 37% with 21% undecided. But inserting Willie Logan into the contest, Logan pulls 7% from Gallagher and a mere 2% from Nelson. The results clearly demonstrate that Logan pulls votes from Republicans, and not merely from Democrats, as pundits had originally predicted.

"We're very encouraged by this news," said Representative Logan. "Obviously we do not have the financial resources of the Democrats and the Republicans, but this poll shows how dissatisfied Floridians are with partisan party politics and how they are searching for a candidate who is not beholden to either party but who will just speak the truth. This campaign is rapidly moving from what the press and the two parties say is impossible to the possible."

The Logan for Senate campaign also pointed out that the poll may have unintentionally underrepresented support for Logan. "The poll's sample was made up of registered voters who were 82% white with only 8% blacks and 3% Hispanics," said Sean Pittman, Campaign Director for the Logan campaign. "That's a lower minority representation than actually exists in the state, and as an African-American himself, and the only minority candidate in the election, Willie Logan stands a very good chance of attracting votes from black and Hispanic voters."

"It's very good news indeed," said Bill Hillsman of North Woods Advertising, Logan's media consultant and the media and strategic consultant for Governor Jesse Ventura's upset election in Minnesota last year. "A year out from the election, Jesse Ventura's campaign was nowhere near double-digits. And like most polls, this poll only talks to likely voters. We believe there are a number of people in Florida who don't vote because they are sick of the usual two-party politics, and who will come out to vote for a different kind of independent, common-sense candidate like Willie Logan."

The survey was designed and administered by Florida Business United (FBU), a division of Associated Industries of Florida Service Corporation. FBU is Florida's oldest and largest business education and research organization. The collection, analysis and distribution of education and research data by Associated Industries of Florida Service Corporation has been ongoing since 1974.

Logan, 42, who has served in the Florida House of Representatives since 1982 and represents the city of Opa-locka and Northwest Miami-Dade county, announced at the end of September that he would run as an independent for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat. Prior to his election to the Florida House, Willie Logan was elected Mayor of Opa-locka at age 23, at the time the youngest mayor in the United States. In the Florida legislature, he consistently ranked as one of the Florida House's most effective members. Following both the 1998 and 1999 sessions, Logan was ranked "most effective Democrat in the Legislature" and has been commended on his ability to work on a bipartisan basis to secure support for his constituents and issues affecting the entire state.

Logan's campaign may be reached by calling (305) 681-5042 or through the campaign's web site at www.logan2000.org.