Poll: Marco Rubio Gaining Ground In Florida

TAMPA, FL — With Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary a week away, the Sunshine State’s own Sen. Marco Rubio is closing the gap against Donald Trump, but it may not be enough to help the Republican candidate take his home state.

The results of the latest Monmouth University Poll show Trump has support from 38 percent of likely Florida voters. Rubio’s backers account for 30 percent while Sen. Ted Cruz takes third with 17 percent support. Ohio Gov. John Kasich trails with 10 percent. The university conducted the telephone poll March 3-6 among 403 likely Florida Republican voters.

“Rubio is within shooting distance in his home state with a week to go in this volatile nomination contest,” Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a media release.

Even so, the same poll also addresses a hypothetical faceoff between Trump and Rubio. Pollsters learned that Trump would lead by a 47 percent margin over Rubio’s 45 percent in that “mano a mano” competition. “It is telling, though, that Rubio is not even the clear victor in a direct face off with Trump,” Murray added.

The lack of a definitive lead in the Sunshine State’s winner-take-all contest for Florida’s 99 delegates allegedly has some in the Rubio camp advising the candidate to pull out before the state’s March 15 primary. CNN reported that some advisors fear a Florida loss could spell trouble for Rubio politically now and in the future. Rubio’s communication director, Alex Conant, however, has adamantly denied internal debate on the topic.

“Marco has the momentum in Florida,” campaign worker Alex Burgos wrote in an email to supporters Monday. “Republicans want a conservative who can win, not a con artist, and the response every step of the way has been amazing.”

Early voting in Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary is well under way in counties across the state. The official primary day is March 15. Trump continues to lead the latest polls on the Republic side while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has the Democrat lead.

Do you think Sen. Marco Rubio can win Florida? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

Photo from the Marco Rubio Facebook page