The fight between Florida favorite sons is heating up the GOP presidential race, with Sen. Marco Rubio surging against former Gov. Jeb Bush in a new poll that shows Rubio beating Bush in a head-to-head matchup.
According to a new survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute, Bush and Rubio are the top choices of Florida Republicans by a mile, with Bush receiving 30 percent to Rubio’s 24 percent.
Those results show a tiny 1 percent dip for Bush since the last poll, taken in March, and an 8 point surge for Rubio.
Sen. Marco Rubio. AP Photo
Rubio has already declared his candidacy and presented what many GOP analysts describe as a strong case for his presidency. Bush is set to announce in Miami on Monday.
The poll shows several advances for Rubio. For example, if the primary race were between just he and Bush, Rubio would win, 48 percent to 40 percent. What’s more, the percentage of Republicans who believe he will be the party’s presidential nominee has tripled to 27 percent. But a larger 34 percent believe it will be Bush.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. AP Photo
“The surge for Senator Rubio is significant and is easily the most interesting finding in our recent politics poll,” said Frank Orlando, instructor of political science at Saint Leo University. “Bush is still holding off Rubio in Florida, but the only factor keeping Rubio from the lead is the large number of conservative candidates who have siphoned his support,” added Orlando.
— 30% Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
— 24% U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida
— 7% Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
— 7% Dr. Ben Carson
— 7% U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky
— 6% Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
