Rubio Now Leads Crist by 18 Points Among Likely Voters

Voters don't go to the polls until August, but Marco Rubio, once the underdog in the Republican Senate Primary, appears to have Gov. Charlie Crist down for the count.According to a new Rasmussen poll of likely Republican voters, Rubio now leads Crist 54 percent to 36 percent. By a rate...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

February 22, 2010

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Voters don't go to the polls until August, but Marco Rubio, once the underdog in the Republican Senate Primary, appears to have Gov. Charlie Crist down for the count.

According to a new Rasmussen poll of likely Republican voters, Rubio now leads Crist 54 percent to 36 percent. By a rate of 2 to 1 male voters prefer Rubio. He also has a huge advantage among self-described conservative voters. Meanwhile the two pull about even among women and moderate Republicans. The fact Crist can't even pull out a lead among moderates is troubling for his campaign.

January's Rasmussen results saw Rubio leading 49 percent to 27 percent. This is the first time the poll has shown Rubio over the magical 50 percent mark.

Meanwhile, no matter who the Republicans end up choosing, they both would easily defeat leading Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek in the primary.

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