Cheney Backs Rubio in FL Senate Race

Meredith Jessup | April 22, 2010 10:53 AM

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has inserted himself into the Florida U.S. Senate race between conservative Marco Rubio and moderate Republican (or Independent?

) Gov. Charlie Crist. According to the AP, Cheney is endorsing Rubio's campaign and slamming Crist whom he says "can't be trusted." Cheney joins a substantial group of prominent conservatives backing Rubio, including, most recently, Minority Whip Eric Cantor.

In addition, there's more good news for Marco Rubio this morning: Rasmussen's latest survey of likely Florida voters suggests Rubio would win (37%) in a three-way race against the likely Democrat candidate Kendrick Meek (22%) and an Independent Charlie Crist (30%).

In a two-way race, both Rubio and Crist hold solid leads over Meek. Rubio now leads among Republicans and unaffiliated voters with Crist in second. Among Democrats, Meek earns 46% support, while Crist picks up 33% of the Democratic vote.
Meek leads among voters under 30, Crist leads among 30-somethings, and Rubio leads among those 40 and older.

The poll also found that Rubio's success and Crist's downfall are tied to Barack Obama's approval numbers. Of those who "strongly disapprove" of the president's job performance, Rubio wins 67%; Crist leads among those who "somewhat approve" of the president with 45%.