Scott’s job approval rating is 46 percent, with 48 percent disapproving. | AP Photos Internal Scott poll: Crist up in Fla.

Charlie Crist leads Florida Gov. Rick Scott by 4 percentage points in an internal poll conducted by Scott pollster Tony Fabrizio.

The survey, taken in late November and obtained Tuesday by POLITICO, puts Crist — a former Republican governor who ran for Senate as an independent and has become a Democrat to try getting his old job back — ahead of his successor 49 percent to 45 percent among likely voters.


Scott’s job approval rating is 46 percent, with 48 percent disapproving. Crist has a mixed, albeit slightly positive image: 47 percent view him favorably, compared to 43 percent who view him unfavorably.

The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

The Florida governor’s race will perhaps be the most expensive campaign of 2014 and, coming in such a key presidential battleground, might be the hottest race of the midterms.

President Barack Obama is 7 points underwater in the Sunshine State, which he narrowly carried last year. A slight majority, 51 percent, view him unfavorably, and 44 percent view him favorably.

A majority of likely Florida voters oppose Obamacare, 55 percent to 38 percent. The intensity of opposition is strong: 48 percent strongly oppose the health care law, compared to 27 percent who strongly favor it.

Fabrizio also polled on which man, Crist or Scott, can better handle 10 different issues.

The incumbent governor has the advantage on six: controlling state spending (+14), reducing taxes (+12), balancing the state budget (+9), turning Florida’s economy around (+5), standing up to Tallahassee insiders (+3) and creating jobs (+2).

Crist has a single-digit advantage on four measures: cares about people like me (+8), is the most honest and ethical (+4), “someone I trust to be governor” (+3) and “shares my beliefs and values” (+2).

Crist’s 49 percent to 45 percent lead in the horse race includes leaners. Among those who say they are “definite” in their preference, Crist leads 35 percent to 34 percent.

Among the 48 percent who disapprove of Scott’s job performance, 32 percent feel strongly. Among the 46 percent who approve, only 16 percent approve strongly.

Crist is also polarizing: 30 percent of the 43 percent who view him unfavorably feel strongly, while only 21 percent of the 47 percent who view him favorably feel strongly.

A poll taken by Quinnipiac University earlier in November found Crist ahead by 7 points, 47 percent to 40 percent.