Charlie Crist claims more than 50 percent support and tops embattled Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) by 12 points in a hypothetical matchup of the state’s 2014 gubernatorial race, according to the latest survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling released Tuesday.
The poll found 52 support of Florida voters supporting Crist, the former Republican governor who said earlier this month that he’s giving “serious thought” to a run for his old job as a Democrat, while Scott trailed with 40 percent. A PPP survey in January also showed Crist with a comfortable lead over Scott, who has been vexed by low popularity throughout his first term in office.
Tuesday’s poll found Scott with an approval rating of only 33 percent. Fifty-seven percent of Florida voters said they disapprove of the job he is doing as governor. Moreover, the poll showed Scott trailing three out of the four Democrats tested by PPP. Among the four hypothetical matchups, Scott only bested former state Sen. Nan Rich (D), who was the first Sunshine State Democrat to announce that will run for governor next year, 42 percent to 36 percent.
The PollTracker Average chart provides a telling picture of the low approval ratings that have defined Scott’s first term as governor.
