Within the Sunshine State, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., appears to have more support than former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, but both Republican presidential candidates can't shake off the "outsider" nominees.

Based on Quinnipiac University's latest polling data in Florida, a state with 24.1 percent Latino population, Rubio and Bush successfully maintained double-digit percentage points, but they are also double digits behind the front-runner, Donald Trump. While Rubio and Bush received 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively, Trump was ahead with 28 percent. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson placed second with 21 percent.

"The generally more energized Republican party members, who backed former Gov. Bush and Sen. Rubio when they ran for office in the Sunshine State, are deserting the establishment candidates for the outsiders -- specifically Trump and Carson," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

Although Trump topped the list among Republicans, he did lost against Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton -- 46 percent to 41 percent. Bush and Rubio, however, did narrowly secure hypothetical victories against the former secretary of state. Against Clinton, Rubio won with 45 percent to her 44 percent. For Bush, he received the same margin of victory, 1-percentage points, with 44 percent to 43 percent.

Rubio and Bush also received better numbers during a hypothetical match against another Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Sanders slipped against Bush, 41 percent to 45 percent, respectively. Rubio won with a slightly higher margin, 46 percent, to Sanders' 41 percent.

The tide could change against Rubio and Bush if Vice President Joe Biden entered the presidential race. Biden beat Bush with 46 percent to 42 percent. The vice president also defeated Rubio with 46 percent to 41 percent.

"In the Democratic race, former Secretary Clinton enjoys greater leads than Trump over her declared opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and potential opponent, Vice President Joseph Biden, but the vice president is gaining, while she is losing support," Brown said.

"When we get past the playoffs to the World Series, the general election face-off, Biden does better against leading Republicans than does Clinton or Sanders. Trump, despite his strong showing in mock Republican primaries, fares worst among the GOP candidates matched against the three Democratic aspirants -- giving some credence to pundits who say the billionaire could be every Democrats' favorite GOP nominee."

Clinton and Trump were also found to be dishonest and untrustworthy with considerable margins, 59 percent and 54 percent, respectively.

"Those who were waiting for Donald Trump's campaign to collapse will need to wait longer - at least in the three key states of Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania," Brown said.

The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted between Sept. 25 and Oct. 5 with 1,174 Floridian voters.

__

For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

Related