New PPP Poll: Rubio Ahead and Meek Starting to Hurt Crist

A new poll from Public Policy Polling wont get much press since it was released on Tuesday, the same day as the primaries were held. It shows former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate election, leading Gov. Charlie Crist, who is in the race without party affiliation, and both of the leading Democrats in the race. The poll found Rubio taking 40 percent with Crist behind at 32 percent and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek at 17 percent. When Meek is replaced by Jeff Greene as the Democratic nominee, the race tightens considerably -- with Rubio at 37 percent, Crist at 36 percent and Greene with 13 percent.

Meek has portrayed himself as the real Democrat in the race and its working to some extent. For the first time in months, Meek is outpolling Crist with Democrats, edging the governor 39 to 38 percent. With Meek expected to win on Tuesday, and having highlighted his support from established Democrats like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Meek appears to have stopped the hemorrhaging of support from his base -- which is bad news for Crist.

The poll of 567 Florida voters was taken on Aug. 21 and 22, and had a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent.