Poll: Rubio and Crist in dead heat among GOPers who know both

A June 24-26 Mason-Dixon poll for Ron Sachs Communications (MoE +/- 6 in primary questions, 4 in general election) shows Charlie Crist leading Marco Rubio in the Republican U.S. Senate primary 51 percent to 23 percent. Just 52 percent of likely primary voters had heard of Rubio, while Crist was almost universally recognized.

Get this: Among Republican voters who recognize both candidates, 33 percent back Crist and 31 percent back Rubio.

In the Democratic senate primary, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is leading U.S. Rep Corrine Brown 27 percent to 12 percent, but 61 percent, remain undecided. More than half the Democratic voters did not know either Democrat.

In a general election, Crist leads 48 percent to 26 percent over Meek, with 26 percent undecided.  Crist also leads Brown by 55 percent to 24 percent, with 21 percent undecided.

“These numbers show Gov. Crist has a comfortable early lead in both the primary and general election races for U.S. Senate,” said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications, who commissioned the poll. “But polls don’t determine elections; voters do. A lot can happen in the 16 months between now and Nov. 2, 2010 – and the campaign will be an intense one.”

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Comments

[who cares about a freaking poll?]

And again, a poll like this is irrelevant. The only poll that matters is the one taken on election day. It's called VOTING.

[observer]

Marco Whobio?

[Marco Rubio continues to ascend]

2:33

That would be MARCO RUBIO, the former FL House Speaker the Washington Times wrote about today

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/29/club-for-growth-at-odds-with-crist/

The Wall Street Journal had this to say about his opponent

Gov. Charlie Crist today:

HURRICANE CHARLIE

THE REPUBLICAN BARNEY FRANK

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623134986666161.html#

[Bud]

The Times is just trying to influence the vote. Charlie is Republican Lite and the grand poobahs who buy ink by the barrel like that a lot.

[Campaign Manager]

That's all well and good, but even with the help of the Club for Growth, will Rubio be able to raise the money to introduce himself to Florida voters? That's an eight figure job in a state like Florida , with lots of big and relatively pricey media markets.

On the other hand, it looks like Cornyn and the NRSC, who had hoped that Crist's candidacy would take Florida off the board for them, may have to pitch in some resources, after all.

[get two of your enemies to fight each other!]

3:34 hahaha - absolutely! I'm supporting Rubio in the primary and will be voting DEM across the board in the election!

[Dickinson]

Pretty obvious Jim Greer didn't pay for THIS poll...

[Poll this!]

Polls are for the pinheads political staffers and consultants who convince moronic candidates to spend their money on them.

If you believe any poll… then you deserve to pay for it.

[nice try]

The key phrase is GOPers who know both. I would say only about 10% or less know Marco.

[whasup]

Shucking Chuckles is NOT a RINO.

He's a Dumbocrat!

If elected, he'll help Obama ruin the nation and make future generations pay for its destruction.

Maybe he doesn't mind because he has no children.

Or should we expect a surprise announcement of a pregnancy sometime next year between the disastrous legislative session and before the primary?

[Ken]

It would be an error to interpret this to mean that as people get to know Rubio the race will tighten up, Rubio will top out at about 30 to 35 % of the primary vote and Crist will be the next U.S. Senator. It is what it is. On the bright side Rubio will gain valuable Name recognition and will be the nomonee who will unseat Bill Nelson.

[The "Forgotten" People]

It’s pretty obvious that many, many, many, many Floridians only THOUGHT they knew Chuck. This undeserving and unaccomplished empty suit has shown her true colors. Chuck is a fraud, and she does not deserve a promotion.

[Look at me I can Tweet]

So isn’t the real question, which campaign will have enough money to communicate its message and not just on Twitter but on TV?

[Gator(R)]

4:05 I believe the blog said 52% had heard of Rubio. Not clear if that is the group they used.

While I think it is an interesting result, as 4:11 says, you can't extrapolate those percentages to the other 48% that don't know him yet. I am surprised. The key as 3:34 indicated will be money.

Polls are important if they help legitimize your candidancy, which in this case, I think this helps Rubio. But, I don't think he can buck the Florida Republican party and win.

[Andrew Dorsey]

Lest we forget that most Republicans in Florida don't vote in primaries.

And that the election is over a year away! LOL. You Crist supporters think it's in the bag, so willing to support the next Specter of the Republican Party.

When you ask a Moderate Republican what the responsible size of government is, is it 15% of GDP? 25% 35% 45%?

Why don't you go take a look and think about it... then think about your choice for US Senator.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/us_20th_century_chart.html

[Dave]

Ken, what is the basis for your analysis?

[Utopian]

As by me, I side with the defence of our American Conservatives Values. This is the main reason that I shall stand with Marco Rubio for Senator.

[Butler]

Ken doesn't have any basis for his analysis other than wishful thinking. After all, as Charlie Crist goes down, those whose income depend on Charlie's continuing in office, will find themselves on the unemploment line.

[David]

Who do you support as the Republican nominee for for U.S. Senate in 2010?

Bob Coggins
Charlie Crist
Gwyn McClellan
Belinda Noah
Marco Rubio
Robert Clinton Smith
Marion D. Thorpe, Jr.
Tom Walsh

Vote now at:
http://www.browardrepublicanwomen.org/poll.htm

[CRIST=SPECTER]

This makes me very happy. Anyone who truly knows Crist knows what an empty-suited, do-nothing piece of garbage he is.

[yah hoo we can beat Rubio a whole lot easier then crist]

I am worried about crist,I am not worried about rubio but,,,the more rubio does our dirty work the better off we are.the extremists are so incredibly short sighted,look how well their plan worked for the last presidential election??? That was all their doing,the extremists beat up Mccain he could not win against a black man with a freaken muslim name,now they will do the same for who ever runs against crist,most likely meek.I have to say,they are not a real bright bunch of people are they?

[Larry]

6:00 = CRIST SHILL.

Crist has done himself all the damage by betraying his party. The Ds won't stand with him. They know a skunk when they smell one too.

As for the General E;ection: it doesn't seem like wither Meek or Brown have the juice it takes to win anyway.

[whasup]

What doomed McCain was simply that the economy had a stroke. It was paralyzed and on life support.

Then Bush, let the Wall Street brain trust team led by Hank Paulson, go in to provide emergency surgery with a $700 billion bandage for the big bankers!

The two combined, the serious medical event and the misguided treatment, convinced the average voter that the Republicans were out for themselves and the rich only!

But nothing would have saved McCain or any more conservative Republican candidate.

Most voters were more afraid of American apearing racist in one election than ending up owing our first, second, and third-born grandchildren to the Chinese!

The fire of conservative criticism didn't send the old pilot down in flames, it was the economic stroke.

[Respect the Tan]

6:15 Some politicians just seem to have the magical quality of Teflon, and Crist may be one of them.

[Simon]

We as Republicans need a third candidate. If you won't support Crist, please find a decent candidate. Rubio is a puppet of the embargo economy in Miami. His friends support the embargo which causes the Cuban people to continue suffering. We need a real leader, not someone supporter by a regime from the 50s.

[terminator]

although rather unscientific and relatively meaningless at this juncture, it bodes as a good sign for Marco.
Unfortunately for our campaign, the Christian conservative and wedge voters didn't come out in the 2006 Gallagher-Crist primary.
I think after witnessing three years of "do nothing Charlie" they will be galvanized behind Marco.
Not to mention, all of Jeb's supporters and network are working for Marco.
Things may tighten up a lot more than people anticipate.
Bottom line is, Crist is vulnerable, especially in the primary.

[Paul D. Harvill]

E molto interesante.

[Acts like an egomaniac, looks like a lil Eddie Munster]

Go Marco! Go Meek! Let's put Florida back in the blue column!

[@]

Did the poll force them to choose one or the other? The "correct" answer for GOPers who really know both would be to dig their own eyes out instead of voting for either one of those idiots.

[GOP INSIDER]

Marco will be known by all of the super voters by 8/24/10 and that's when it really counts. Tell me Crist supporters where is Charlie going to get his victory from?

SE FL? NO!
Panhandle? NO!
I-4? Maybe
Tampa Bay? NO WAY-WE KNOW HIM(73-9 in Pasco) and can't wait for Hillsbourgh and Pinellas)

Big MO is with Marco Rubio, so like we say in the South "Let the big dog eat!!!"

[Steve]

Call me a little jaundiced towards the ruling Dems but I will support either candidate who wins the GOP nod. Unfortunately I believe that Crist stands a better chance of winning in the general. I would rather have him than a Dem in the Senate.

[Larry]

Simon, that silly embargo doesn't do ANYTHING to or for the Cuban people. Last time you were in Cuba, didn't you see Japanese buses, French cars and other foreign made goods all over in those hotels and shops reserved for tourists?

No, the embargo doesn't keep goods out of the hands of the Cuban people. The utter failure that is Communism as an economic system keeps goods out of the hands of the Cuban people.

In other words: the Cuban people can't afford nice things only becausee Communism doesn't work.

[zenator]

Politics, like war is mostly a numbers game with God on the side of the candidate with the most resouces, especially in a large state like Florida with high campaign costs.

Rubio's name recognition remains low. I haven't seen any recent numbers, but I re-call a poll last year indicating that his name recognition was less than 25% in Dade County. It will take time and a lot of money to increase his positive name recognition.

Since today is the end of the June 30 quarter, we will all soon know whether Marco is a contender or a pretender. Right now, it is pretty much all about the money...

[Robertson]

Is there a difference between Charlie and a Dem?

[David]

Who do you support as the Republican nominee for for U.S. Senate in 2010?

Bob Coggins (0) 0%
Charlie Crist (42) 17%
Gwyn McClellan (0) 0%
Belinda Noah (0) 0%
Marco Rubio (204) 81%
Robert Clinton Smith (2) 1%
Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. (2) 1%
Tom Walsh (2) 1%

Total Votes: 252

Vote YOUR opinion at:

http://www.browardrepublicanwomen.org/poll.htm

[poll this]

David's non-scientific poll has a MoE of + / - 81%.

[Hal Hoffman]

When are Republicans going to stop listening to the left wing press and go back to the principals that won 2 land slide elections with Ronald Reagan? I knew exactly what was going to happen when we allowed the so called "Maverick has been" John McCain to carry our party banner! He does not have a Conservative bone in his body! He is again asking for money for another run and I told him to save his breath. To hell with Colin Powell, he was never a real Republican anyway, and Arlon Specter!!! Good riddens! Another Democrat posing as a Republican! And "Charlie no drilling and global warming Crist???" He is about as Republican as Chuck Norris is "Gay!!!" Here is "IT" in a nutshell! We won the house, Senate and Whitehouse on a no baloney conservative platform and put them in there to do the peoples wishes, AND THEY GOT WISHIER AND WASHIER UNTIL YOU COULD NOT TELL THEM FROM CHARLEY RANGLE AND CHUCKY SCHUMMER. "W" WAS NO REAGAN, BUT WE STUCK WITH HIM BECAUSE OF 911, THEN WE PUT UP A "WEAK" CANDIDATE LIKE JOHN MCCAIN, AND THE HOUSE OF CARDS CAME TUMBLING DOWN!! WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO WHAT GOT US TO THE DANCE IN THE FIRST PLACE!! RONALD REAGAN AND THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA.....PERIOD! WE WILL WIN BACK THE REAGAN DEMOCRATS IF WE DO THAT, NOT BY BECOMING MORE LIKE THE LEFT WING WACKO DEMOCRATS! STOP APOLOGIZING FOR BEING A CONSERVATIVE, WEAR IT LIKE THE BADGE OF HONOR IT IS AND THE SPIRIT OF "RONALDIS MAGNIS" WILL RISE AGAIN!!

[Hal Hoffman]

Crist is a light weight!! I do not know much about Rubio, but if "Jeb" supports him, that is good enough for me Anyone
But
Crist
simple as A B C!!

[Aimee]

Well put Hal!We have to stop listening to the polls & #'s & voting for who "can win" based on them. We also have to look past party loyalty (GOP instant endorsement of Crist)& start voting for principles. Trust your instincts vote for people of character & don't listen to the polls! Who controls & minipulates all that info anyway? Read Rubio's Bio the guy IS the "American Dream"! We have to fight for people of character willing to go into politics because they believe in & love our country's freedoms & who are willing to stand up & protect our freedoms & our constitution from those in our own Government who want to "CHANGE" it! Stand up for the people who will stand up & represent us "WE THE PEOPLE"!