One year out from the 2014 state election, Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist holds a 10-point lead over current Republcian Gov. Rick Scott in a head-to-head matchup according to a new poll by Gravis Marketing of Winter Springs.
In the same poll, a strong majority of voters are saying they are undecided when asked to choose between incumbent Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi and either of the two Democrats running to oppose her, George Sheldon or Perry Thurston. For both of the potential Democratic nominees for attorney general, the Florida population has a “Who are they?” opinion, with more than 90 percent saying they don’t know. Bondi has double-digit leads on either of them but is far from gaining 50 percent herself.
The Crist-Scott matchup, which would happen if Crist defeats former state Sen. Nan Rich in a Democratic primary, appear fueled partly by a still-strong disapproval rating for Scott and an assumption by many voters that Crist better understands average Floridians better.
“Both (Crist and Scott) are doing well with their parties but the independent [vote] is the key,” said Gravis managing partner Doug Kaplan.
Crist leads among independents 51-30. “Crist is killing him with independents,” Kaplan said.
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