Charlie Crist has chipped away at Marco Rubio's lead in Florida's U.S. Senate race but still faces a seven-point deficit with five days to go, according to a new poll released Thursday.
Governor Crist has picked up a bit of steam but still trails Rubio 42-35 percent, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters conducted last week.
Democrat Kendrick Meek continues to trail both Republican front-runner Rubio and the Independent Crist with just 15 percent.
A similar poll conducted two weeks ago showed Rubio with a comfortable 44-30 lead over Crist, with Meek trailing at 22 percent. Though Meek supporters seem to be switching to Crist, the Governor has steep climb with little time left.
"Gov. Crist has pulled within hailing distance," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the poll, adding that Rubio is still in a good position. "Marco Rubio's in the driver's seat."
Crist's defection from the GOP, a major point of the final debate between the candidates Tuesday in Orlando, has turned off party loyalists, with Rubio ahead among Republicans 77-19 percent. Crist leads Meek 51-36 percent among Democratic voters.
Meanwhile, Democrat Alex Sink maintained a 45-41 percent lead over Republican Rick Scott in the race to replace Crist as governor. 11 percent were undecided.
"This race looks like it will go to the finish line as a dead heat," said Brown. "She has some momentum, but anything can happen in the final days."
