Florida Gov. Charlie Crist suddenly is the underdog in a heated Republican primary race with rival Marco Rubio for a U.S. Senate seat, amid signs the Sunshine State is tilting more to the right.
Two polls released last week showed Mr. Rubio leading the governor by 18 percentage points in the August primary, a reversal from last summer, when the former Florida House speaker trailed Mr. Crist by 30 points.
The shifting fortunes underscore how profoundly President Barack Obama’s slumping popularity is convulsing both parties. The rise of hard-line conservatives and Tea Party activists are eroding support for Democrats and moderate Republicans such as Mr. Crist, who was viewed as a possible vice-presidential candidate in 2008
Full story: Fortunes Flip in Florida Senate Race – WSJ.com