In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey of the Florida gubernatorial race, Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist leads Democratic Congressman Jim Davis 45% to 40% (see crosstabs).

That's little change from last month's poll, which showed Crist with a four-point edge. Earlier in the year the Republican, the best known of those running, often enjoyed a bigger advantage over potential rivals. But the race has grown more competitive.

Davis, who defeated State Senator Rod Smith for the Democratic nomination by only six percentage points, is being admonished by Democratic operatives to run a tougher campaign. One of his major issues is property insurance rates. (Both candidates seem to agree that they're too high.)

Crist's latest campaign commercials, implicitly riding on the coattails of Republican Governor Jeb Bush, explain that it is better to keep prospering than to return to the failed days of the past. The ads have focused on tax cuts and educational reform.

This makes sense in a state where 61% of likely voters approve of the job the Governor is doing. Thirty-eight percent (38%) disapprove (a number evenly divided between those who "strongly" and "somewhat" disapprove).

Crist is viewed favorably by 60% of Florida voters, Davis by 50%. And Crist is viewed "very favorably" by almost double the number who view his opponent "very favorably."

The Governor's brother doesn't fare so well in the state. President George Bush's job performance is approved by just 43%, with 57% disapproving overall and 45% strongly disapproving.

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