Mason-Dixon poll: Rubio leading Crist by 11 points

[ccharles000]

Marco Rubio holds an 11-point lead over Gov. Charlie Crist in the GOP Senate primary, according to a new Mason-Dixon poll, an edge that, while sizable, suggests the race is closer than other recent polls indicate.

Statewide, 48 percent of likely Republican primary voters favor Rubio, a former Florida House speaker, while 37 percent back Crist. About 15 percent are undecided.

In less than a year, Rubio has erased a 35-point deficit to pull ahead of Crist, a one-term governor who has had trouble winning over the GOP base. Crist’s favorable ratings among Republican voters have cratered in the last three-and-a-half years, falling from 55 percent in August 2006 to 37 percent in the new poll.

His unfavorable ratings have climbed from 14 percent to 32 percent over the same period.

Meanwhile, Rubio’s favorables come in at 42 percent, up from 20 percent in May 2009. A year ago, only about half of GOP primary voters had heard of the Miami lawyer and former legislator, but now his name recognition is up to 87 percent, according to Mason-Dixon.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/03/mason-dixon-poll-rubio-leading-crist-by-11-points.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+news%2Fpolitics%2Fpoliticalpulse+%28Central+Florida+Political+Pulse%29&utm_content=Twitter

[Nancy Waterman]

1. Christ should run an independant

and caucus with the Dems. He would win.

[Dappleganger]

2. Yes he would.

He could be our own personal Joe Lieberman.

[vaberella]

4. Can't have enough of Lieberman's around.

:sarcasm:

[LeftyAndProud60]

3. Crist needs to just become a democrat. nt

[golfguru]

5. Crist is too right wing for me...sorry