Republican nominee Marco Rubio was the clear target in last night’s primetime debate among the Florida Senate race’s three candidates. And according to recent polls, it was for good reason.
A new Mason-Dixon poll out today has the Republican leading big in the fight against independent Gov. Charlie Crist and Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek: Rubio is found ahead of Crist and Meek, respectively, 42%-27%-21%. When Mason-Dixon last took a look at this race on September 22, the Republican earned 40%, versus Crist’s 28% and Meek’s 23%.
The latest survey is one of a number of recent polls that look favorably upon Rubio: an October 6 Zogby poll had the Republican ahead of Crist and Meek 39.2%-33%-17.6%, while three surveys from September 28 had him leading comfortably–41%-30%-21% in a Rasmussen survey, 42%-31%-23% from a CNN/Time poll, and 46%-33%-18% in Quinnipiac’s survey.
From today’s findings, Mason-Dixon’s Brad Coker concludes, “Rubio is in the catbird’s seat. Most Crist voters don’t seem likely to jump to Meek and most Meek voters don’t appear ready to throw in with Crist. This stand-off on the left and center makes it easy for Rubio to win simply by consolidating the base of conservative leaning Florida voters.”
The TPM Poll Average shows Rubio leading the contest with 42.8% to Crist’s 29.0% and Meek’s 21.8%.
For more on the race, check out TPMDC’s full coverage here.
