With Super Tuesday 11 polls now open, Donald Trump's 2016 Republican presidential showdown with Ohio Governor John Kasich remains too close to call in Kasich's home state, but the GOP front-runner is expected to trounce Florida Senator Marco Rubio on his home turf.

A Real Clear Politics composite poll taken beginning the week of March 4, shows Kasich leading Trump 38.4 percent to 35.4 percent. Texas Senator Ted Cruz is the only other GOP candidate registering in double figures at 17.8 percent.

When it comes to Rubio and Florida, the intrigue doesn't appear to be nearly as intense.

Trump Appears Well on his way in Florida

Trump is expected to easily walk away the victor in the critical, winner take all the delegates state, where the latest RCP snapshot has him leading Rubio by nearly 20 points at 43 to 25 percent. Cruz stands at 18 percent and Kasich is stalled in single digits at just 9 percent.

A sweep of both states is widely viewed as a scenario that would put the political neophyte Trump well on his way to actually securing the party's nomination.

For Rubio, the handwriting has seemingly been on the wall ever since his poor debate showing in New Hampshire caused him to slip at the ballot box far more than what was originally expected. Still, Rubio has maintained much of his bravado, particularly when it comes to his critical assessment of Trump.

"I don't think there's anyone in the history of American politics that compares to the vulgarity of a Donald Trump candidacy," he recently told reporters in the wake of a number of violent incidents breaking out at Trump campaign rallies across the country.

He has since added he sees this primary election as being a choice between "fear and optimism," adding "We're not going to allow the conservative movement to be hijacked."

Meanwhile, Trump has boasted he's poised to go for a "knockout" on both of his rival's home turf.

"I see probably getting the delegates," he said. "You know, it's like the fighters. That's the ultimate way of doing it. You knock 'em out. If you knock 'em out, nothing can happen."

Kasich on the Move

All indications are the suddenly surging Kasich won't go down without a battle. In the hours leading up to the polls opening, he crisscrossed between at least 10 events across Ohio.

A sign of his potential emergence seemed to come in the form of the company he is now keeping. At one event, he was joined by 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

"You look at this guy and unlike the other people running, he has a real track record," Romney told a crowd gathered at an airport hangar in North Canton. "He has the kind of record that you want in Washington. That's why I'm convinced you're going to do the right thing tomorrow."

As yet another indication of where things stand as the votes start to be counted, Trump cancelled an event in Florida late Monday and added a stop in Ohio instead.

But even if Kasich is able to pull off the win, his battle in earnest may just be beginning. An Ohio win would represent his first during primary season with half of the states already having had their say. And the map ahead is filled with potential potholes.

Still, Kasich insists he will do well in such states as Pennsylvania and New York. Super Tuesday 11 results may determine if he's still even in the game by then.

Related