A June 24-26 Mason-Dixon poll for Ron Sachs Communications (MoE +/- 6 in primary questions, 4 in general election) shows Charlie Crist leading Marco Rubio in the Republican U.S. Senate primary 51 percent to 23 percent. Just 52 percent of likely primary voters had heard of Rubio, while Crist was almost universally recognized.

Get this: Among Republican voters who recognize both candidates, 33 percent back Crist and 31 percent back Rubio.

In the Democratic senate primary, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is leading U.S. Rep Corrine Brown 27 percent to 12 percent, but 61 percent, remain undecided. More than half the Democratic voters did not know either Democrat.

In a general election, Crist leads 48 percent to 26 percent over Meek, with 26 percent undecided.  Crist also leads Brown by 55 percent to 24 percent, with 21 percent undecided.

“These numbers show Gov. Crist has a comfortable early lead in both the primary and general election races for U.S. Senate,” said Ron Sachs, president and CEO of Ron Sachs Communications, who commissioned the poll. “But polls don’t determine elections; voters do. A lot can happen in the 16 months between now and Nov. 2, 2010 – and the campaign will be an intense one.”

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