Poll: Crist leads Scott by 10 points

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (D) is leading incumbent Gov. Rick Scott (R) by 10 percentage points in a new poll.

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

{mosads}The survey found 53 percent said Scott does not deserve to be reelected. 

The poll is good news for Crist, who was a Republican for most of the time he spent as the state’s governor.

Republicans remain bitter over Crist’s decision to abandon the party and run as an Independent for the Senate in 2010, when he was defeated by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Crist subsequently endorsed President Obama and spoke at the 2012 Democratic national convention.

The poll suggests Crist is surviving his party switch.

Fifty-two percent said Crist’s switch from the Republican to Democratic Party was a positive move, while 40 percent said it was negative because it indicates he has no core beliefs. 

Crist announced his gubernatorial bid in November. He previously served as the Sunshine State’s governor from 2007-2011.

Just over half of female voters support Crist, while 44 percent of men support Crist and 43 percent back Scott. The survey also found 48 percent of independent voters support Crist. 

More than half of Florida voters said they approve of the way Crist handled his job as governor, while half disapprove of Scott’s current job.

Half of Florida voters also said Crist is more compassionate than Scott, the poll found.