Memo to Florida Democrats: It's time to get your sh*t together.
Though some may placate themselves by saying it's "Just Rasmussen," a new poll published by Rasmusen Reports Wednesday shows incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson trailing Connie Mack for the first time in head-to-head polls, by a margin of 46-37 percent.
Democrats have previously charged that Rasmussen's polls skew slightly more conservative than the mainstream, though his supporters claim he's one of the most accurate pollsters. Rasmussen says his polls are different because he polls only "likely" voters, and not just registered ones. (Conversely, some allege Public Policy Polling skews Democratic. Last month it had Nelson up by 13 points over Mack).
The poll is dramatic in that while most head-to-head match-ups have had Mack up by a point or two, they were also statistically too close to call. In fact, this result is a big flip for Rasmussen, which back in April had the results the complete opposite, with Nelson up 47-36 over Mack.
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2012.