Election 2008: Florida Republican Primary

Florida: Romney 33% McCain 27%
Sunday, January 27, 2008

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Florida shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney earning 33% of the vote while Arizona Senator John McCain attracts 27%.The poll was conducted Saturday afternoon before Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced his endorsement of McCain and the race is fluid enough that both men have a realistic chance of winning on Tuesday. Rasmussen Markets data showed that expectations for a McCain victory rose following the Crist announcement.

Romney leads 42% to 22% among conservative voters while McCain leads 43% to 25% among moderates.

Among voters who consider the economy the most important issue, Romney has a very narrow edge over McCain, 37% to 33%. Among those who name either the War in Iraq or National Security issues as most important, the candidates are tied at 31%. Immigration is seen as the top issue by just 12% of Florida’s Likely Republican Primary Voters, but they overwhelmingly favor Romney over McCain by a 63% to 7% margin. Huckabee picks up 16% of those who consider immigration the top priority.

Earlier this week, just before the Florida debate, Romney led by four percentage points. A poll conducted last Sunday found Romney leading by five.

As Florida voters seek to decide between the two frontrunners, support for other candidates is fading. Rudy Giuliani is a distant third at 18%, Mike Huckabee 12%, some other candidate, 5%, and Ron Paul 2%.

Three percent (3%) of Florida’s Likely Voters have yet to make up their mind. Another 21% say they might still change their mind. That figure includes 8% who say there’s a good chance they could change their mind before voting.

Fifteen percent (15%) of Giuliani’s supporters say there’s a good chance they could change their mind, a higher percentage than for any other candidate. That’s potentially good news for John McCain.

Eighty-five percent (85%) of Huckcabee’s supporters are either certain they will vote for him or have already voted. Eighty percent (80%) of Romney’s supporters are that “certainâ€