If "Charlie's fan" made any difference in the Florida gubernatorial race, it isn't showing. With a little more than two weeks to go, a new poll shows the contest is still in a dead heat.
Rasmussen Reports released a post-fangate poll of likely voters Monday which shows Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist deadlocked with 47 percent each. Only 2 percent back other candidates while 4 percent remain undecided. Libertarian Adrian Wyllie, who has broken double digits in some polls, was not included in the Rasmussen poll.
Crist had been leading in Rasmussen polls taken earlier this year but Scott caught him in a survey taken at the end of July. Back in early September, in the last Rasmussen poll, Crist led Scott 42 percent to 40 percent.
The new poll shows Scott is keeping his head above water with the voters. Half of those surveyed -- 50 percent -- approve of Scotts work in Tallahassee while 47 percent disapprove. Scott also reaches 50 percent when it comes to favorability, though 46 percent see him as unfavorable.
Crist is upside down in the poll by the slimmest of margins, with 48 percent seeing him as unfavorable while 47 percent see him in a favorable light.
Both candidates have nailed down their bases with 82 percent of Republicans backing Scott and 80 percent of Democrats going for Crist. When it comes to voters outside the major parties, Crist takes 46 percent of them and 41 percent go for Scott.
Asked who they trust more on government spending, voters break Scotts way 44 percent to 40 percent. Scott also edges Crist on taxes with 45 percent saying they can trust the Republican more on the matter; 43 percent prefer Crist. On social issues, Crist has the advantage with 45 percent saying they trust him more while 40 percent say Scott. On government ethics and corruption matters, 41 percent trust Crist more while 38 percent prefer Scott.
The poll finds Floridians are not happy with the tone of the campaign. Almost half -- 47 percent -- of those surveyed think this campaign contest has been more negative than previous statewide races. Rasmussen has asked the same question across the nation and the percentage of Florida voters who say the race has reached an all-time low is above the national average. However, 45 percent think it is as negative as other races have been before, while only 6 percent think its been more positive than past campaigns.
The poll of 1,114 likely Florida voters was taken Oct. 15-17 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
