Sachs/Mason-Dixon poll: Crist leads all for Senate; Meek leads Brown among Democrats

June 29, 2009

TALLAHASSEE, FL.

A new statewide poll released by Ron Sachs Communications shows Gov. Charlie Crist leading 51 percent to 23 percent over former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio in the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, with 26 percent undecided.

Crist enjoys virtually total name recognition among Florida Republicans, while Rubio is recognized by 52 percent of likely Republican primary voters.

In the Democratic Primary, Congressman Kendrick Meek leads Congresswoman Corrine Brown 27 percent to 12 percent, but nearly two-thirds of voters, 61 percent, remain undecided. Name recognition for both candidates among Democratic voters remains under 50 percent.

In a General Election, Crist leads 48 percent to 26 percent over Meek, with 26 percent undecided. Crist also leads Brown by 55 percent to 24 percent, with 21 percent undecided.

The poll of 625 Florida registered voters was conducted June 24 - 26 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. Questions relating to the General Election have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. The poll also includes an over-sampling of 300 likely Democratic primary voters and 300 likely Republican primary voters who were asked questions relating to the primary election races. These questions have a margin for error of plus or minus 6 percent.

"These numbers show Gov. Crist has a comfortable early lead in both the Primary and General Election races for U.S. Senate," said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications, who commissioned the poll. "But polls don't determine elections; voters do. A lot can happen in the 16 months between now and Nov. 2, 2010, and the campaign will be an intense one."

Results from questions regarding the Florida Governor and Cabinet races will be released Tuesday, June 30.

Click here to download the poll.