Rasmussen Has Rubio in a Tie With Crist

The latest Rasmussen poll has Marco Rubio tied with Charlie Crist in the Republican race for the US Senate:

Governor Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio are now tied in the 2010 race for the Republican Senate nomination in Florida.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely GOP Primary voters finds Crist and Rubio each with 43% of the vote. Five percent (5%) prefer another candidate, and nine percent (9%) are undecided.

Crist’s support has fallen from 53% in August to 49% in October. Rasmussen Reports noted at the time, “The fact that Crist has fallen below 50% in a primary against a lesser known opponent suggests potential vulnerability.”

Rubio’s name recognition has grown in recent months and he is now viewed Very Favorably by 34% of Likely Primary Voters. That’s up from 18% in August. As his name recognition increased, Rubio’s support in the polls has jumped from 31% in August to 43% today.

Crist, well known throughout the state, has seen his ratings go in the opposite direction. Just 19% now have a Very Favorable opinion of him, a figure that represents a double digit decline since August.

I'll be attending a Plant City Tea Party tomorrow where Rubio is scheduled to speak. Plant City is a fairly small, mostly rural area best known as the "Winter Strawberry Capital of the World." Rubio's willingness to venture into smaller venues is one of the reasons his poll numbers have risen so quickly. I've heard him speak at one prior event and he showed a genuine interest in listening to the voters and answering any questions put to him. He's a far cry from the typical politician who jumps up on stage, gives a speech lacking in particulars and rushes off to the next engagement.

I'll have more on Rubio tomorrow night.

h/t Richard McEnroe at Not One Red Cent