(CNN) – Mitt Romney and Herman Cain are tied at the top in the battle for Florida's Republican primary, according to a new poll. And a Suffolk University survey of Sunshine State voters also indicates that adding Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida to the GOP ticket would change the political landscape in the key battleground state.
According to the poll, 25% of registered Republicans in Florida say they support Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who's making his second bid for the White House, with 24% backing Cain, the businessman, former Godfather's Pizza CEO and radio talk show host. Romney's one point margin is well within the survey's sampling error.
The poll indicates former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 11%, Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 9%, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas at 5%, former Utah Gov. and ambassador to China Jon Huntsman at 2%, with Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson each at 1%.
The poll was conducted almost entirely before reports emerged of sexual harassment allegations against Cain.
A CNN/Time/ORC International Poll released last week indicated that three out of ten Republicans said they would back Romney, with Cain at 18%. Gingrich and Perry each at 9% support, with Paul at 6% and everyone else in the low single digits.
Florida is becoming a player in the battle for the GOP presidential nomination and will hold its primary on January 31, voting fourth in the primary and caucus calendar. Florida has a closed primary, allowing only registered Republicans to participate.
In hypothetical 2012 general election matchups, the poll indicates that President Barack Obama is deadlocked with Romney at 42%, with Obama holding a three point margin over Cain, 42 to 39%, which is within the sampling error. The president holds a 46 to 34% advantage over Perry and a 44 to 32% lead over Paul, and a 45 to 38% margin over Gingrich.
The poll also asks about Rubio, the Republican freshman senator from Florida. If Rubio was the GOP vice presidential nominee, the poll indicates the Republican ticket holds a 46 to 41% margin in the Sunshine state.
"Marco Rubio secures Florida which, along with Ohio, is one of the two most important swing states to win, said David Paleologos, director of the Political Research Center at Boston's Suffolk University. "He also adds potential strength in states like New Mexico, Texas, California, Arizona, and Nevada, which have high Hispanic populations."
Rubio has repeatedly said he has no interest in serving on the GOP ticket.
While the poll indicates that Obama struggles in Florida the low 40 percent range on job performance and possible 2012 head-to-head matchups with Romney and Cain, he rises to 50 percent in a hypothetical match up when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is added to the Democratic ticket, as the running mate.
"Clinton has become the quantifiable lifeboat that could save a sinking Democratic ticket in 2012," adds Paleologos.
But Clinton has repeatedly shot down any suggestions that she would join the ticket next year and the White House has shot down any suggestions that Vice President Joe Biden would be replaced on the ticket.
The Suffolk University poll was conducted October 26-30, with 800 Florida registered voters questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Also see:
Romney to give policy address Friday
Pro-Perry group blankets Iowa and South Carolina with new ads
Activists propose 'shutting down' candidate offices during Iowa caucuses
From CNN Politics
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Rubio is a proven LIAR. End of story.
I am so sick of these stupid match-ups involving Hillary Clinton. My God CNN can't you for once be decent and quit trying to beat a dead horse?
Obama/Biden 2012. America's cure.
There is no Rubio effect here in Florida. Unless you are speaking of how big of a LIAR he is.
Obama/Clinton 2012
1. As I understand it, unless Rubio proves he is not a dual citizen, he cannot be President. Being V-P nominee would
put him too close to becoming President. Maybe that's why "he has no interest", he knows he is not qualified.
2. Where is your story on the Republican House of Representatives voting on a REaffirmation of the motto,
"In God We Trust", and why are they doing this and where did they get the to time to think this one up. The motto
is on our money to stay. If they are trying to, once again, put down President Obama and his use of "e pluribus unum",
they have proven, yet again, their self-centered shallowness. They have no sense of pride, no respect for
America, the people, nor themselves.
Rubio might be able to deliver Florida, but that's it. He has largely aliented Hispanic voters and he is phony. He would be of no use in Ohio.
Marc Rubio is a child. Florida, please ...........
I am so sick of polls, polls, polls. And who cares what happens in Florida, the armpit of the country?
Rubio is as bad a flip-flopper as Romney.
He's told a dozen different versions of the story about his family and Cuba.
.
dont really care, i live in florida, and will not vote for any republican, all arguments made by all the candidates still back the rich, and honestly dont trust any of the candidates....sorry I'm voting for Obama for re-election.
Rubio?
Rubio is a downright liar who fabricated stories about his family's move to Cuba. I'm certain that this will bite him big if he should decide to join the republican ticket as Vice President. These polls say absolutely nothing about what will happen in November 2012? It's just a way to lure Rubio into the fray, but when he's being vetted he will prove a disaster to the ticket. The republicans are still living in a dreamworld. Romney is nothing near to a match up with Obama.
If Rubio enters the race he will soon be revealed, just like Herman Cain is.
Too bad. Hillary has it all.
Rubio is just a fresh face that still hasn't done anything for the state of Florida.
i would LOVE to see Hillary as the Veep. But – she is the best Sec of State we have had in a long time, and I'm not sure that she would take a back seat to Obama there. Then again...she takes a back seat now. What does the Veep do anyway? Biden as SecofSt? That kinda seems scary.
Just shows how gullible people in FL are. Cain's 9-9-9 plan is juvenile and so is he. Ron Paul's "fortress America" worked real good before WW1 & WW2. I voted for Obama, but will likely vote Romney. Harvard law + Harvard MBA. CEO of an intl strategy firm, governor of MA a tough state, pulled Olympics out of trouble in Salt Lake. Family man who seems to get RESULTS whatever he does.
They should just scrape this poll since it was being taken when 2 news stories were just breaking about 1 of the individuals, Rubio ; and not yet in the news was the Cain situation. The results are meaningless now.
@Woman in California:
Hillary Clinton may just resuscitate that Obama horse.
As a Cuban American, I tried to warn Floridians of Rubio.
I was a democrat and a huge Clinton supporter, who left the party for good after the smear tactics employed by Obama and his media pals in the 2008 primaries. I am not surprised that he is doing a lousy job, or that his supporters are now disappointed and have a buyers remorse that they would have been better off with Clinton. Nor is it surprising that she is doing a fabulous job at state, and she is the only one with great ratings among his admin. I sincerely hope that Hillary will decline his lousy VP offer, if it comes. We all remember the contempt with which Barry rejected Hillary's request for the slot in 08. Now if he makes an offer, it is only to save his skin. The reality is that everything he does these days is t save his job, and not anything for the country. Clinton shuld tell him to take a hike. His boat has already sunk. You could field a donkey and it will win against Obama in 2012. HIllary can focus on some private sector gig until 2015, and then come back – if the stupid Dems learnt anything, they will put her at the top of the ticket the next time, and people like me will come back to the fold.
I live in Florida and I will not be voting for these liars. Ron paul has my vote.
Polling must not be going as good as expected for Flipping Mitt for CNN to keep including Hillary Clinton in a poll as a potential V.P. pick. Last I heard she is Secretary of State and is clearly not interested in becoming Vice President. As for Rubio, well, he has his own issues to worry about now, making him an even more unlikely candidate for Vice President than Hillary.
Dems know a liar when they see one. Obama and Billary Clinton are the two biggest liars to ever occupy the whitehouse.
Enough with the Clinton's already! Her husband was one of the worst President's in this country's history. She is nothing more than a harpy. Enough.
I live in Florida and will vote for Rubio in election over my deadbody!
With how the republican candidates saga changing daily, these polls mean absolutely nothing. I am with President Obama, will wait until everyone is voted off the island before I pay attention.
Cain and Rubio what a ticket......2 liars for the price of one.........Rubio is not a citizen and he knows it willl come out if he gets anywhere near the Repub ticket........
Clinton saw what happen to her in 2008 with the media. It was too stressing for her and I don't think she wants to go through that again.
It would be a shame if Florida went with Romney. At least Cain is a straight shooter who says it as it is. Romney says it the way you want to hear it if it gets him elected.
Hillary is the only person that can get our Country back on track. Obama needs to step aside and allow her to run for President. If he doesn't, he will lose and we will see our country go to the lowest it's ever been with any of the GOP'ers running now.
Obama-Clinton 2012... Clinton-Obama even better!!
Rubio is not fit to polish the heels on Hillary's shoes.
Screw your poll, they are contrived, and quite worthless as evidenced by those that have Cain garnering the GOP nomination to run for president.
Yeah right.
Actually, he has only told one version of the story. The Washington Post has basically declared he could not prove his parents were exiled from Cuba, while most normal people would say the Washinton Post can't prove they were not.
This is as silly as the birthers on the Republican side and a perfect example of everyone putting party and politics before logic. The same people who were on this board complaining about the birthers are now jumping on board and doing the same thing to Rubio. Again, as a moderate, I get more and more disgusted by both parties each day.
Anonymous, "Rubio is a proven LIAR. End of story."
And so are Clinton and Obama. Your point? The fact is that Clinton has done everything to distance herself from Obama, and smartly so.
Rubio's star has been falling in recent months... He would have had far more sway if the election were held two years ago.
That`s 49%--- so 51% prefer one of the other candidates. Those 51% really don`t like either, therefore, the GOP is fractured in Fl.
rubio -huntsman......the best hope for america
Robert, you`re being "herded" back into the group. Remember, it was the REPUBLICANS that got us here. And the REPUBLICANS that have NOT put any plan out there for the economy, except cut taxes and reduce spending. -- Just look at what led up to the Great Depression and Republican "fixes" that worsened conditions. - Did anyone study history/ economics ??????
Contrary to popular opinion, we have far too many business men in government. Business has different goals than government, and it's a bad place to draw politicians from. Business strives to crush opposition and maximize profits. We see examples of the results of hiring too many business men in Congress, where each side struggles to destroy their opponents and gather more pork for their pet projects instead of cooperating, compromising, and governing.
Trying to sell me Romney or Cain for president because of their business experience is not ever going to work. That just assures me that they will be rapacious, bull-headed, and care nothing for the people who depend on them. They will, however, worship money and give themselves over to greed. It's in their business man genes.
We need people in government with experience in something other than business. Something that brings people together for the common good, which should be the goal of government. How about someone who's run a thrift store or food bank? How about someone with city planning or zoning experience? Not a pizza man or corporate hatchet man, though.
Florida voter here. Yes, I vote in every election...too bad our youth doesn't. There is an election somewhere in this country every Tuesday. Wake up Florida or we will get stuck with another corporate felon in the White House like we have in our Governors Mansion. I am already working to keep the White House with the best President of my lifetime, and keep Bill Nelson in the Senate and my Rep Ted Deutch in the House.
This is ridiculous. We have been fed so many lies from the Liberals and no solid running canidate from the Gop that Americans are beginning to think of an independent running canidate could take it all. Hillary Clinton needs to think about that for on an independent ticket and cleaning up her act such as the 2nd admendment gun rights and the governments health plans she would sweep all other canidates. Come on out Hillary the nation needs you. HILLARY 2012
Cain is toast.
Next!
Maybe Florida. The rest, nope. He's too shady with his stories
"And so are Clinton and Obama. Your point? The fact is that Clinton has done everything to distance herself from Obama, and smartly so."
You must have missed her last appearance on Meet the Press. That's OK. You can always google it and see for yourself just how "distanced" she is from praising Obama.
Hilary continues to prove why she was our best choice in 2008 and she would be for 2012- even as VP.
Every GOPer with a brain knows Obama will win a second term and that's why only the losers are running.
What they don't know is 2016 is when Hilary will win, and again in 2020. So we will get the time we need to flush out all the crap GOP control left behind.
Hillary Clinton ticket will win we agree because media invaded her campaign thoroughly in 2008
Marco Rubio we don’t know much about him he may turn like Herman Cain or Rick Perry
Every GOPer with a brain knows Obama will win a second term and that's why only the losers are running.
What they don't know is 2016 is when Hilary will win, and again in 2020. So we will get the time we need to flush out all the crap GOP control left behind.
===========================================================================================
Egads, ease up on the kool-aide will ya! Everybody can read poll numbers that say Obama loses in a head to head match up with Daffy Duck. The American people have heard enough of his lies, attacks, excuses, finger pointing, etc. The guy is a loser and will be sent packing next year. It will be a VERY humiliating defeat for him and many Democrats. (those dumb enough to run for re-election that is)
Yeah, but what does Rubio do to the GOP ticket in other states haha. Hint: [Insert wrong answer gameshow buzzer sound]
Considering that the mostly elderly voters of Florida elected a Republican governor who stole $500 million from Medicare (still a record) and got away with it, there's no telling what wacky thing they may do next year. Since most of them are also racists, it's hard to imagine them supporting a black man, but then they may have failed to notice that he's black (yes, they're that dumb). As for Rubio, Republicans managed to pitch him as a "tea partier", even though he's one of the crookedest insiders in state politics, and the old fools bought it. Yes, a Republican can go far in Florida!
If Rubio would perpetuate a lie about his ROOTS, what else is the guy lying about? If the GOP can't figure this one out, or figure out Cain, this country is DONE. At some point, they have to start connecting the dots on these lies (or "mis-speaks" as the candidates call them) - I mean really, if they know someone personally who conducts themselves like this, normal folks tend to say, OK, that person is BS, I'm not going to associate with them. In other words, don't vote for them. They are showing you who they are, listen, pay attention.
I'm still a "none of the above" guy. Any Repugnant is going to be bad news, and Obama takes corporate cash and gives in to right wing pressure.
I live in Texas, so my vote is wasted anyway. There is no possibility that anyone but the Repugnant nominee, be he Mitt Romney or Daffy Duck, will win in Texas. So, there is absolutely no reason for me to vote for Obama, even if he is slightly better than a Repugnant. And voting for the Repug will just give him one more winning vote. I could just stay home, but it's still our duty to vote.
So, I will vote for any other person on the ballot, or try to figure out how to write in a name. Unless you are in a so-called swing state, your vote doesn't count either. Why not join me in voting for anybody other than the Dem or Repub? You have nothing to lose, and if we all do it, maybe someone will notice that we exist. Besides, you can save yourself a lot of grief by deciding on your candidate now and not following the race for the next year.