Almost half of Florida Republicans are backing two candidates from the Sunshine State in the 2016 primary while Gov. Chris Chrisite, R-N.J., fades, a new poll shows.
St. Leo University released a poll of Florida Republicans toward the end of last week which shows former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., ahead of the pack. Bush takes 31 percent followed by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., with 16 percent. Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., stands in third with 10 percent.
Two candidates are in high single digits. Dr. Ben Carson, who moved to Florida after ending his celebrated medical career, pulls 9 percent while U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is at an event in the Panhandle on Monday night, takes 7 percent.
Christie continues to lose steam in Florida, pulling 5 percent in the poll. Back in December 2014, Christie pulled 14 percent in a St. Leo poll. Frank Orlando, who teaches political science, contrasted Christies fading numbers to Rubio who had been at 5 percent back in the December poll.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies support for the Republican presidential nomination has eroded from the previous Saint Leo quarterly poll in December 2014 while U.S. Sen. Marco Rubios potential candidacy gained considerable ground, Orlando said. However, he still trails front-runner Jeb Bush by double digits.
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., who moved to Florida after his try for the Republican nomination in 2008, took 4 percent, tying him with two Texas Republicans: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Gov. Rick Perry.
Two candidates -- Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., and former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, R-Md. -- take 1 percent each.
Other candidates -- Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.; former Ambassador John Bolton; U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.; former Gov. George Pataki, R-N.Y.; former Gov. Jim Gilmore, R-Va.; former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina; and Gov. Mike Pence, R-Ind. -- take less than 1 percent apiece.
Rubios the top pick for second choice with 21 percent followed by Bush with 13 percent, Carson and Paul with 7 percent each, and Walker and Kasich with 6 percent apiece.
Asked who they think the nominee will be, 38 percent say Bush, 11 percent think it will be Walker while 9 percent insist it will be Rubio.
The sample of Republicans came from the St. Leo poll of 522 Floridians which was taken from March 15-21 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
