LEGAL NEWSLINE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, now running as a Democrat, continues to maintain a strong lead over the current Republican governor Rick Scott, a new poll indicates.

Crist leads Scott 48-38 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

Scott has been unable to dent Crist's lead, which stood at 46-38 percent in a Jan. 30 survey and 47-40 percent in a Nov. 21 survey.

"So far, Florida Gov. Rick Scott's television barrage apparently has had no impact on the race," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

"The incumbent has not been able to reduce former Gov. Charlie Crist's lead. In fact, voters see Crist's party switch in a positive light and the incumbent's effort to tie Crist's support for Obamacare has not yet borne fruit."

Overall, Florida voters say 50-35 percent that Crist is more compassionate than Scott. Women back Crist 51-33 percent and say 49-33 percent that he is more compassionate.

Men, on the other hand, are divided in the matchup with 44 percent for Crist and 43 percent for Scott, but say 50-38 percent that Crist is more compassionate, the poll states.

Independent voters back the Democrat 48-34 percent and say 52-31 percent he is more compassionate.

The poll states that Crist's political party shift from Republican to independent to Democratic is a positive thing showing he is a pragmatist, 52 percent of voters, including 60 percent of independent voters, say, while 40 percent say it is negative, showing he has no core beliefs.

Consistent with earlier poll findings, Florida voters say 53-39 percent that Scott does not deserve reelection.

"Florida voters think former Gov. Crist is more compassionate, more honest and trustworthy and was a better governor than Gov. Scott," Brown said.

"The difference may be simple: voters like Crist, whose strength always has been his ability to connect. Voters sometimes elect candidates they don't like personally, but not that often."

From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com