A new Rasmussen poll of Florida primary voters shows Mitt Romney maintaining an 8-point lead over Newt Gingrich, 39 percent to 31 percent. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul, both of whom have effectively pulled out of the Sunshine State, are polling at 12 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Here’s more from Rasmussen:
Four days ago, just after the South Carolina Primary, Gingrich led Romney 41% to 32%. Less than two weeks earlier, coming off Romney’s decisive win in the New Hampshire Primary, it was Romney 41%, Gingrich 19% in Florida. Santorum’s and Paul’s support has remained largely the same throughout.
The latest results from Florida are a mirror image of the dynamic found a week ago in South Carolina. In the Palmetto State, the former House speaker was trailing by 14 points on Monday, but following a strong debate performance he had a two-point lead by Wednesday. That 16-point turnaround seemed stunning at the time. Now, in Florida, it’s Romney’s turn. He trailed by nine points in the Sunshine State on Sunday but enjoyed a 17-point comeback by Wednesday.
The latest results from Florida are a mirror image of the dynamic found a week ago in South Carolina. In the Palmetto State, the former House speaker was trailing by 14 points on Monday, but following a strong debate performance he had a two-point lead by Wednesday. That 16-point turnaround seemed stunning at the time. Now, in Florida, it’s Romney’s turn. He trailed by nine points in the Sunshine State on Sunday but enjoyed a 17-point comeback by Wednesday.
Could a good debate performance from Gingrich tonight in Jacksonville turn around his fortune in Florida in the final days before next Tuesday’s primary? Or is Romney going to continue to consolidate support among Republicans? The poll trend is certainly in Romney’s favor, although intensity and excitement seem to be on Gingrich’s side.
