Crist tops Florida's Scott on almost every measure

Majority of voters say Scott does not deserve a second term

MIAMI ā€“ A new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday morning shows Gov. Rick Scott trailing former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who switched from the Republican to the Democrat party, in this year's governor's race.

Crist leads Scott 46 - 38 percent. Crist tops the incumbent on almost every measure including handling the economy and jobs. These two issues are listed by voters as the most important issues in the race.

Scott also received a negative 41 percent job approval rating, his lowest score in almost a year. 54 percent of voters say that Scott does not deserve to be reelected.

"The best number in this poll for Crist ā€“ and the biggest problem for Scott ā€“ is that a majority of Florida voters say the current governor does not deserve a second term in Tallahassee. Voters also give Crist a higher job approval for when he ran the state than any approval rating Scott has received in his three years on the job," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Crist leads on other measures including heath care and education. 44 percent of voters believe Crist is more honest and trustworthy.

The poll also shows that at least 53 percent of Florida voters approve of the job Crist did when he was governor.