New Poll: Dem Primary Result Still the Deciding Factor in Charlie Crist-Marco Rubio Race

Wondering if independent Gov. Charlie Crist or former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate, is ahead in the battle for the U.S. Senate? Well, according to a poll released this morning by Rasmussen Reports, it depends on who prevails in the Democratic primary on Aug. 24.

When U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek gets the Democratic nod, Rubio leads with 38 percent, Crist has 33 percent and Meek pulls 21 percent. If Jeff Greene beats Meek for the nomination, Crist pulls 37 percent, Rubio is right behind him with 36 percent and Greene takes 20 percent.

Rubio has locked up two-thirds of the Republican base, carrying 66 percent in either of the two scenarios. Crist still commands a sizeable portion of his former party.

In both matchups, Rubio gets 66 percent of the Republican vote, and Crist draws 25 percent support from his old party. Crist pulls more from the Democrats --getting 36 percent of their backing while Meek only retains the allegiance of 48 percent. Crist does even better with Democrats when Greene is their nominee -- splitting the vote exactly with the billionaire financier.

The poll of 750 likely voters in Florida took place on Aug. 9 and has a margin of error of +/-4 percent.

Take heart, poll junkies. Rasmussen is set to unveil even more polls on Florida later in the week.