Likely Voters familiar w/candidates - Libt. Snitker 12%, Democrat Meek 4.5%

From Eric Dondero:

Have Democrats sunk so far as to obtain "Minor Party" status in Florida?

New polling data released by Telsel, Inc. out of St. Augustine suggests that Libertarian candidate for US Senate Alex Snitker could actually come out ahead of Democrat Kendrick Meek in the four-way race. Snitker has been running a suprisingly agressive "Ron Paul style" insurgency campaign.

The polling data also suggest libertarian/Tea Party Republican Marco Rubio in a tight race with moderate Republican-turned-Independent Gov. Charlie Crist.

From Telsel, Inc. (via Snitker site):

The question asked was, “If the election were held today, which Senate candidate would you vote for?” The survey listed the candidates in the order in which they will appear on the ballot. The results were rounded to nearest half percentage point.

Candidate All Respondents, Likely Voters
Marco Rubio (R) 32.0%, 33.5%
Kendrick Meek (D) 9.0%, 9.5%
Alexander Snitker (L) 2.5%, 2.5%
Charlie Crist (NPA) 40.0%, 40.0%
Undecided 16.5%, 14.5%

Respondents were asked if they were familiar with each of the above candidates. Among respondents who said that they were familiar with Snitker, the results changed dramatically:

Candidate All Respondents, Likely Voters
Marco Rubio (R) 30.0%, 31.0%
Kendrick Meek (D) 4.0%, 4.5%
Alexander Snitker (L) 11.0%, 12.0%
Charlie Crist (NPA) 38.5%, 36.0%
Undecided 16.5%, 16.5%

(Note - Telsel interviewed 505 respondents, 447 said they are likely to vote in the November)

The liberal-leaning Miami Herald while downplaying Snitker's numbers over Democrat Meek as "hardly worth noting," calls the Crist - Rubio numbers "interesting figures."

Meanwhile, the partisan Democrat website SwingStateProject denigrates Snitker's chances of winning, but finds the polling data "extraordinary."

Meek has been plagued by continuous ethics questions. Notes the liberal-leaning alternative newspaper Creative Loafing out of Tampa:

Meek, his staff, and family have questionable ties to a Miami developer of ill repute...

A 4th place finish for the Democrat Party in Florida could prove to be an embarrassing footnote on Election night 2010. This would especially be the case if the outcome comes close to what this new polling suggests: Democrat Meek finishes behind a Libertarian/Tea Party Republican, a fiscal conservative Republican/Independent and a hardline Libertarian Party member.