Marco Rubio is up in the latest Rasmussen poll of likely voters, leading Gov. Charlie Crist, an independent, by two points, 35 percent to 33 percent. Rep. Kendrick Meek, a leading Democratic contender, remains in a distant third at 20 percent. Still, as Rasmussen points out, Meek is gaining, and his take this week reflects a five-point gain from earlier in the month.

Meek is being challenged by Jeff Greene, a wealthy real-estate investor, in the Democratic primary. Rasmussen predicts that if Greene upsets Meek, some Democrats could flock to Crist. In that scenario, Crist leads Rubio — 36 percent to 24 percent — with Greene pulling in 19 percent.

Another nugget — Crist is seen as a conservative by only 10 percent of Florida voters.