Marco Rubio is expected to lose his home state of Florida to Republican front-runner Donald Trump in this month's primary by an overwhelming 9 in 10 local politicians, a new Tampa Bay Times Florida Insider poll finds.

With just over a week remaining before voters go to the polls on March 15 in the Sunshine State, the survey also finds 90 percent of the 170 politicians interviewed fully expect Trump to emerge as the party's official nominee come November's general election. Eight in 10 of respondents are also convinced Rubio should suspend his campaign once his inevitable defeat in the delegate rich state becomes official.

Trump Can't Be Stopped?

"I'm resigned to the fact that Donald Trump is going to be the nominee," said one of the legislators polled. "Rubio or Cruz can't stop him. My wishful fantasy is someone would step forward as either a third party candidate or someone delegates could rally around. The meat and potatoes Republicans who are voting for Trump are blowing up this party, and it's a crying shame."

Another insider added, "Trump is going to knock out Rubio on March 15th, and Rubio will cost himself a chance to run for governor in 2018 after getting embarrassed in his home state."

The Florida Insider Poll is billed as a snapshot of the state's political climate and includes the views of those actively supporting or working for assorted presidential campaigns and committees.

Despite Trump's status in the state as the overwhelming favorite to emerge as the official face of the GOP, more than two thirds of those polled said it would be unwise for Gov. Rick Scott to publicly endorse him. In addition, 43 percent agreed a contested primary might be in the best interest of the party if it has any chance of slowing Trump's express ride to the nomination.

In the most recent Quinnipiac University poll, Trump led Rubio 44 to 28 percent in Florida, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz placing third at 12 percent. Only 5 percent of voters indicated they remain undecided, though nearly 1 in 3 admitted there is still a chance they might change their pick of candidates by Election Day.

Rubio Remains Unfazed

Meanwhile, Rubio continues to dismiss all the alarm signals, doggedly insisting that the fractured GOP field has mightily contributed to the kind of dominance Trump showed on Super Tuesday, when he won seven states, four more than top competitor Cruz.

"The party is fractured, which isn't unusual for political parties and they almost always come back together," said former Minnesota Gov. and 2012 presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty.

"But this could test the outer limits of that tradition," added Pawlenty, who has now endorsed Rubio. "If the Republican Party were an airplane and you're looking out the window, you'd see some pieces of the surface flying off. And you'd be wondering whether the engine or a wing is next."

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