Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist has improved his advantage over two potential Democratic opponents in the race for Florida Governor. Another Republican candidate, Tom Gallagher, has lost ground since our last poll (see crosstabs).

Our February survey showed both GOP hopefuls opening up leads over Democrats Jim Davis and Rod Smith. Now Crist leads Davis 44% to 33%, an increase from five to eleven percentage points. Crist leads Smith 46% to 31%, a smaller gain, from twelve to fifteen points.

Tom Gallagher, by contrast, is now neck and neck with Davis, leading 39% to 38%. When matched with Smith, Gallagher now leads 43% to 36%, a decline in his lead from thirteen points to seven points.

Last month, Crist enjoyed a double-digit lead over Gallagher in the GOP Primary competition. In the Democratic Primary, Davis held a huge lead over Smith at that time. We will be polling on the Florida Primary match-ups again next month.

Crist enjoys the widest name recognition, and was especially visible during the record hurricane season of 2004. But with no candidate yet earning more than 50% support there's plenty of time for the dynamic of the race to change.

Crist is viewed favorably by 51% of the electorate, Gallagher by 45%. Davis is also viewed favorably by 45%. Smith is viewed favorably by 40%. Davis and Smith are the least known, with about a third of voters saying they don't yet know what to think of them.

In the Florida Senate race, Democrat Bill Nelson holds a 30-point advantage over Republican Katherine Harris.

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of likely voters say they've been following the news about immigration; 46% say they do so "very closely." Most, 68%, say securing the borders and enforcing existing law should be the priority. Fifty percent (50%) are opposed to forcibly deporting all illegal aliens in the U.S., while 53% oppose letting the child of an illegal alien automatically become a citizen.

At least for the moment, Republicans may be improving their tattered standing with Florida voters as a result of the immigration debate—voters nationwide are slightly more inclined this month to trust Republicans rather than Democrats on the issue.

The rolling average of our last three polls shows Crist leading Davis 41% to 35%. Over those same three polls, Gallagher leads Davis 40% to 36%. Crist has gained ground in each poll we've conducted this year.

Crosstabs are available for Premium Members.