FL-SEN POLL: Crist 30%, Rubio 27%, Meek 15%

[jefferson_dem]

St Pete Times/Herald/BayNews 9 poll: Crist 30%, Rubio 27%, Meek 15%
Charlie Crist's declaration of independence is paying off — so far.

The governor narrowly leads Florida's topsy-turvy U.S. Senate race, despite nearly half of the voters saying he made a "purely political" decision to bolt the GOP and run as an independent candidate in the Nov. 2 general election, a new St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll finds.

Of the registered voters surveyed, 30 percent were for Crist, 27 percent for Republican Marco Rubio and 15 percent for Democratic front-runner Kendrick Meek. The race remains volatile: Crist's lead over Rubio is within the poll's margin of error of 4 percentage points, and nearly one out of four voters is undecided.

"This is a bit of a petri dish in some ways because Crist is a popular guy — people like him, they like his policies," pollster Julia Clark, director of Ipsos Public Affairs, said of the outsized influence independent and swing voters may have on the race. "He is stripping away support from both the Democrats and the Republicans, and I think that's going to confuse things a lot for both of those parties."

The secret to Crist's success so far: his broader appeal across the political spectrum in the newly reconfigured three-man race. He is backed by 39 percent of independents, 38 percent of Democrats and 26 percent of Republicans. Rubio, a former House speaker from Miami, and Meek, a Miami congressman, are drawing most of their support from members of their own parties.

For a governor who is leading one of the country's most economically ravaged states and who only a few weeks ago faced near-certain defeat against Rubio in the Aug. 24 GOP primary, Crist remains remarkably well-liked.

Only 38 percent disapprove of his job performance, while 52 percent approve — including more than six in 10 independents and Democrats.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/05/st-pete-timesheraldbaynews-9-poll-crist-30-rubio-27-meek-15.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Meek is quickly becoming the real third party candidate in this race

If I was a Floridian and the polls looked like this the weekend before the election, I'd be forced to suck it up and vote for Crist. We cannot have Rubio in the Senate.

[bigwillq]

2. Me too.

I would vote for Meek if it seemed like he had a chance. If not, I really think I would vote for Crist.

[Orlandodem]

3. While I'd prefer Meek, I'll vote for Crist if it keeps Rubio out!

[HughMoran]

11. If the polls look this way on election night & I lived in Florida?

I'd do that too - he's much preferable to that idiot Rubio.

[spartan61]

5. This is exactly what my plan is.

As a Democrat, I would prefer Meek and if the race is close, I will vote for him. However, if he is trailing by a lot, I will have to vote for Crist.

[K8-EEE]

12. If it gets closer and Meek doesn't have a chance he should throw it to Crist.n/t

[DCBob]

17. Meek is losing ground... I doubt he can turn it around by election day.

He is good local candidate but statewide it does not look like he has the support to win.

[stevenleser]

25. I'm worried but there is still time. But everyone should be pragmatic

I think Meek deserves a chance but there is a definite time limit to that.

We have to start seeing some movement in his numbers and fast. I'd say if there is no movement by the end of July or at the latest, the end of August, the party should go to him and say, OK, what else would you like to do...

[DCBob]

27. I think that is exactly what is going to happen.. Salon has a couple of good artilces about this...

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/05/24/white_house_crist_meek_switch/index.html
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/05/24/kendrick_meek_odd_man_out/index.html

[ChiciB1]

19. AS A FLORIDIAN, You May Be Surprised To Hear That What You Just

said is becoming the norm. I, as a "forever" Democrat in a "forever" Democratic family have talked this over on more than one occasion!

Did I EVER think I would vote for Crist.... NO! But I'm seeing NOTHING from Meek and even though I have my problems with Crist I think many of us are going to do whatever is needed to keep RUBIO OUT!!

[flamingdem]

31. Please keep him out!!! He is a LOCO TEABAGGISTO! nt

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

4. I hope Crist and Meeks double-team Rubio and don't exchange fire themselves.

[nsd]

6. If I were Crist, I'd just ignore Meek.

That's a plausible strategy for him: pretend the race is Crist vs. Rubio.

[Divine Discontent]

7. that probably will occur - however, in the final few weeks, Meek (not Meeks) will probably go after

Crist as a political opportunist. But yes, the main enemy is Rubio. He must be defeated by either of these two. If Meek is within 4 points of the lead in polls, I will vote for him, if not, Crist.

Go Kendrick - show up and show us what you got!

[Colobo]

8. So far, I'm voting for Crist. I won't waste my vote on Meek.

[skipos]

9. There is nothing to indicate he won't caucus with Republicans.

I don't know why people here seem to be ok with that.

[Colobo]

10. My main goal as a voter is to help stop Rubio.

We'll deal with the rest later.

[Lorien]

13. I'm with you Colobo. Rubio would be a disaster

Crist is far from ideal but he has also been a huge improvement over Jebbie. He's for paper ballot elections and green energy, so that's a start. Meek has been too...meek. He has no name recognition and his campaign seems to have stalled. It's very disappointing. We need better candidates!

[DCBob]

16. Actually there is ton of stuff to indicate he wont. caucus with the GOP..

-- He vetoed the GOP/Jeb Bush education reform bill
-- He supported the Dems stimulus plan
-- He hugged Obama
-- Republicans have thrown him under the bus and its going to get worse as the elections nears
-- McConnel said he might even block Crist from joining the Repub caucus
-- He has refused to say who will caucus with.
-- And he appears to sliding left with each passing day.

[HooptieWagon]

20. Crist was a life-long Republican

I just don't see him agreeing with the Democratic Caucus on most issues. Further, when he beats Rubio I imagine the GOP will do all it can to persuede him to caucus with them. I'm actually quite fine with that, he will be the GOP's Lieberman, causing them endless grief. However, Crist is not batshit crazy like Rubio, and if he is a key vote on an important issue he may end up forcing the GOP to de-fang the most extreme of their legislation in order to get his vote.

Despite having significant re$ources, Meek has remained invisible in the race, and has spent little of his money. His campaign hasn't gotten out of first gear, and he's made no move to shake up staff to change that. Furthermore, he's tied to some serious ethics questions... enough that I wonder if this Senate campaign isn't merely a vehicle to rake in and horde campaign donations. He's toast, but just hasn't acknowledged it yet. Given the two remaining alternatives, Crist is a FAR better choice than Rubio.

[DCBob]

22. "was" is the key word there. He is no longer a registered Republican...

Also, he does not have to agree with the Dem Caucus on every issues to caucus with them. And, I really dont see a "kiss and make up" with GOP after all that has happened and is going to happen during the course of this campaign. I suspect the Dem leadership will make a deal with Crist as we near election day.

[HooptieWagon]

23. It's easier to change a name than his core beliefs.

Crist still believes what he did, it's just that the GOP moved well to the right of him. That doesn't mean he's any closer to being a Dem than he was. Still, he's a hell of a lot more preferable than Rubio, and a hell of a lot more electable than Meek.

[DCBob]

28. I actually think Crist "core beliefs" are more liberal than what he appears..

For example, he used to be more pro-choice back in the 90's but being a Republican forced him right on that issue. So now he can be free to be as pro-choice as he wants. I suspect we will see him move left on this issue and others as the campaign heats up.

[HooptieWagon]

29. Maybe, we'll just have to see.

But I'm from St Pete (Crist's hometown), and if I vote for him in Nov (as I likely will), it will be the first time I ever cast a vote for him... and at that, it's not so much a vote FOR him as it's a vote AGAINST Rubio.

[Cha]

24. Zactly..

[ram2008]

14. Rubio has to be stopped at all costs here's why..

He's got the hands of the Bush family all over himself. They've got plans for little Old Rubio, big ones. If he wins this Senate election, he becomes the only Republican Latino senator. Rubio is young, attractive, and considered "intelligent" by those on the right. After a victory, Rubio instantly becomes Vice-Presidential material for whoever the 2012 candidate is(Romney's my guess). Rubio can then be used to bring back the latino vote, and put on a facade that the Republicans actually care about minorities, all while adding something historic to the Presidential Ticket. He will be hailed a rising star: the Republican Obama.

I don't trust anything with such strong Bush connections. They have their eyes set on the Whitehouse house again.

This next part is even more theoretical, but I like theoretical politics so why not? Let's say Romney/Rubio wins in 2012. Who will be in line to fill Rubio's Republican Hispanic seat? You guessed it. None other than Jeb's son.. George P. Bush.. who just happens to be Hispanic as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P._Bush. He's certainly building quite the resume, and with Dad's connections he'll be in the halls of Washington in no time.

[tomm2thumbs]

15. an incumbant-type in the lead? oh the pundits must be twitching uneasily

pundit = person with an internet connection

[DCBob]

18. Crist also just got FL Education Association's endorsement albeit a dual endorsement with Meek..

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100523/NEWS01/5230321/Educators-endorse-Crist-Meek

But that has to be a blow to Meek that they would split their endorsement with a "non-Dem".

[tallahasseedem]

21. I will be voting for Crist...

Rubio must be stopped. Period.

[Dappleganger]

26. All I want is a Governor who has the strength to stand up and veto all the garbage right-wing crap

the legislature keeps churning out.

[golfguru]

30. Meek needs to drop out of this race

Otherwise Crist and Meek will divide the vote and gas bag Rubio gets in.

[golfguru]

32. However if Meeks stays in....

all democrats in FL should vote for him and
let Rubio & Crist split the non-democratic vote and both lose.