Poll: Crist is vulnerable, even as he's trouncing Rubio
So says the Club for Growth after commissioning a June 13-14 poll of likely Republican voters (MoE +/- 4.38 percent). Similar to the Sachs/Mason-Dixon findings released this week, Charlie Crist was leading Marco Rubio 51 to 21. But add extra information to the equation (like Crist supported the stimulus package and Rubio is a rising star pal of Jeb Bush) and the numbers tighten significantly. Of course, that begs the 10 media market question of whether Rubio will have the resources to get such information out to Florida voters.
Concludes the pollster: Charlie Crist begins the Florida GOP primary in a borderline position, not in the overwhelmingly strong position that many commentators suggest. If Marco Rubio has the resources to get a positive message out about his background, record, and priorities, the race will likely become very competitive. Florida primary voters are strongly conservative and heavily against more spending and debt from Washington. Crist’s record of support for the Obama stimulus, for tax increases, for government health care, and for “cap and trade” all make it harder for him to prevail.
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look for Crist to start the flip-flopping soon.
remember his famous "I'm a Jeb Bush Repulican" line he touted so often in the 06 campaign?
Posted by: terminator | June 30, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Crist bests Rubio by 30 percentage points and this is good news for Rubio?
If Crist led by 40 points, just think how happy the Club for Growth would be.
Posted by: Tampa Bay Conservative | June 30, 2009 at 09:25 PM
No kidding Tampa Bay. Rubio is going to have to raise double what Crist does each quarter to even have a shot.
Posted by: Tard | June 30, 2009 at 09:45 PM
Marco you have 2 weeks to get right. The party will be over very soon.
Posted by: Marco/Ray | June 30, 2009 at 09:58 PM
As the polls numbers on the governor's end get lower and Marco Rubio's get higher I think to use the word "trouncing" at this stage of the game is wishful thinking. Nice try though.
Charlie Crist is a sitting governor. If he was a man of substance there shouldn't even be room for a serious challenge in a Senate primary, but in fact there is.
Posted by: OH! that | June 30, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Using the word "trouncing" seems appropriate here .. .good try at spin though.
Posted by: Observer | June 30, 2009 at 10:55 PM
10:55 news around the Web
The Washington Times
yesterday
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/29/club-for-growth-at-odds-with-crist/
Anti-tax group at odds with Crist
Club for Growth likes GOP rival Rubio
The Wall Street Journal
yesterday
Hurricane Charlie
The Republican Barney Frank.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623134986666161.html#articleTabs%3Dcomments
The Sayfie Review 6-30-09
Democrat: Poll: Rubio still far behind Crist – but Rubio closing gap
Tallahassee Democrat today
excerpt
.....Among Republicans who recognized both men's names, Crist's lead was 33 to 31 percent. With an error margin of 6 percent, and 36 percent of GOP voters saying they are undecided, the figures were encouraging for Rubio.
"Half of the Republicans have never heard of Rubio but among the half that have, the race is essentially tied," said Brad Coker, director of the Mason-Dixon poll. "If Rubio gets a little money and gets a little momentum going, it's a dead heat."
Cliff notes....The make-up is wearing off.
Posted by: Charlie Crist's numbers continue to fall | June 30, 2009 at 11:14 PM
I guess Charlie's 60=% popularity numbers are now completely discredited for the fabrication they always were.
Look out Jim Greer! Charlie will soon be history. And a man like McCollum will never want the likes of YOU around.
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Posted by: Resveratrol Ultra | July 01, 2009 at 02:07 AM
Florida Government 101.
A bill does not get to the Governors desk without the identical legislative approval of the House and Senate.
Rubio was leader of the House for 2 of 3 Sessions while Crist was Governor. No bill Crist signed into law was signed with out the approval of Rubio's House.
No bill passed Rubio's House without Rubio's consent.
The only uncommon ground the candidates share is in any executive authority Crist may have utilized without legislative consent.
Long story short...most of what Crist has done in 2+ years as Governor, Rubio was complicit. Do not forget that.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 01, 2009 at 06:46 AM
6:45
EXTRA CREDIT:
A Governor can have a great deal of influence in passing or KILLING legislation.
Case in point: Rubio's House passed a bill eliminating property taxes. THAT would have made taxes DROP LIKE A ROCK. Charlie killed it because it was not HIS idea. Now THERE"S leadership... NOT!
Posted by: Joe | July 01, 2009 at 07:19 AM
I am a life long Republican and everyone that I speak to is for Rubio(EVERYONE!). Were never polled but we all vote.
All of the $$$$$ in the world won't wash away the stench of Crist hugging Obama on TV. Crist also appointed a Democrat to the Supreme Court of Florida, and next year when WE(GOP) vote the economy will be worse because of the OBAMA/CRIST agenda.
Sorry Charlie-one term and out!
Posted by: Super Voter | July 01, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Super Voter....
You're right. I've been hearing the same thing from my republican voter friends.
But, tell me who, then, is responsible for Charlie raising $750,000 on Monday?
Check the numbers on July 11th.
Someone's telling you they're voting for Marco, but methinks they're contributing to Charlie...
Posted by: Cynical Idealist | July 01, 2009 at 07:45 AM
It will be funny to watch Greer try to save his job after Rubio beats Crist.
Posted by: Joe Cool | July 01, 2009 at 08:26 AM
How much of the Samson/Odom sleaze may stick to Rubio?
Posted by: how 'bout them repiggies | July 01, 2009 at 08:30 AM
All Shucking Chuckles money is coming from the party elites, the super rich and establishment types; or from his old 'hole buddies; from those who owe him favors or who need his help next legislative session, especially business executives; or from political appointees in executive branch agencies. In addition, the power brokers in Washington are channeling money to him.
None of these folks are in touch with what regular, ordinary Republican primary voters feel.
Unless Chuckles finds some way to get lots of Demobamacrats and independents to switch parties to vote in the primary, which won't happen, he's likely to get a big surprise primary night!
Those most motivated to vote in the primary will be on the conservative wing, who'll be sending this Dumbocrat a message: we've had enough and we're not going to take it anymore!
Super Mario will benefit greatly from that as the anti-incumbent.
Posted by: whasup | July 01, 2009 at 08:41 AM
This "club" does itself no service by pounding on everyone or anyone who doesn't fall in lockstep line with them. Isn't that what got the Bush admin. in trouble?
Posted by: Dumb Move | July 01, 2009 at 01:01 PM
7:45AM What does a 2400.00 Republican donor to Crist have in common with a 50.00 donor for Rubio? Ans: one vote each! Besides that I KNOW!! people that gave Crist $$ because they do business with the state and need the governor and to them it's money well spent, but you will never know who they vote for.
33-31 with 15 months to go-way ahead of Obama's rise against Clinton.
Posted by: Super voter | July 01, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Sorry to pour cold water on those attempting to "debunk" these polling results on behalf of advancing Leftist politicos. These data are good news for Marco Rubio, bad news for Crist. But the import really boils down to how Club for Growth and other serious-minded conservatives deploy this evidence. The question is whether CFG possesses sufficient resources to garner the campaign resources Rubio will require to best Crist then go on to general election victory in Florida.
CFG is coming off a stunning success, in forcing Pennsylvania's Sen. Arlen Specter into such a tough, tight corner that Specter revealed his true political coloration in reverting to Democrat from Republican-of-convenience. Specter made his Senatorial political career by cutting bad Leftism-advancing deals with Democrats that undercut Republicans and Republican influence to counter bad legislation. But what good has it done to (likely) be rid of Specter's Senate perfidy, if he's replaced by yet another faithless jerk like Crist? If Rubio cannot beat Crist in the Republican primary, Florida's general election voters will have a sorry "choice" between two big-government elitists fond of Leftist prescriptions, which voters must select between whether they want that with a "D" or "R" behind the name! That is the kind of message CFG and allied conservative groups must get out rapidly, urging conservative donors across the nation to fund Rubio's campaign fast, so as to preclude the country being sold out by yet another "Republican" who gives the Leftists the close, bad laws they covet.
Posted by: BJC | July 01, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Club for Growth = Grover Norquist = He doesn't reside in Flordia and doesn't give a damn about Florida and our future.
Posted by: Paul D. Harvill | July 01, 2009 at 08:46 PM