Jim Messina to Charlie Crist Backers: Ignore the Polls

Even as a Mason-Dixon poll released last week showed Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist in a dead heat, the former governor's team is insisting the polls are meaningless.

On Monday, the Crist camp showcased Democratic strategist Jim Messina, best known for his work guiding President Barack Obamas successful campaigns.

Messina let supporters know he expects the gubernatorial race to be a tight contest.

I'm going to tell you the same thing I said at least once a week during President Obama's 2012 campaign, Messina emailed Crist supporters on Monday. Forget about the polls. One says we're up, another says we're down, a third says we're tied -- that crap is just noise. This race is going to come down to the wire. What will put us over the top is the grassroots organization we build together.

You might see some crazy headlines over the next six months. Don't get distracted by the horse race, Messina added. Just keep your head down and focus on the task at hand: electing a governor who will do the right thing for Floridians. The only thing that matters is how big we build this organization, and how effectively we can turn out the votes for the only poll that counts -- the one on Nov. 4th.