Is underdog Marco Rubio, the conservative darling in the Florida Senate race nipping at the heels of the supposedly unbeatable Charlie Christ? A new poll may suggest that in fact he is. A Florida Chamber of Commerce poll, that isn’t yet public, has apparently leaked to both the Rubio and Crist camps and shows Crist at 44% and Rubio at 30%. This has Florida politicos buzzing and supporters of the Teflon Charlie worried.

Crist supporters say, “this isn’t the only poll,” that shows Rubio pulling significant enough numbers to worry them.

More and more, they say, likely Republican voters are leaning toward Rubio and away from Crist, who’s having trouble undoing his man-hug of Barack Obama.

Crist, who enjoys the backing and money of the national GOP structure including an endorsement by NRSC Chair John Cornyn, has been lagging in grassroots support within Florida. Rubio has been cleaning up at straw polls where the base has overwhelmingly supported him over the Governor, leading Crist to dismiss the polls (but still campaign for support in them of course).

Another interesting nugget on this race, “Crist supporter even speculated that Crist might consider withdrawing from the race and run for re-election.” Although I find that hard to believe, the fact that his camp is openly discussing that possibility in proof that they are generally concerned at the threat Rubio poses to Crist’s expected coronation in the Senate race.

With the primary still 10 months anything could happen between now and then, but Rubio’s grassroots support, Crist’s falling approval ratings (now below 50%) and an economy that has 11% of his state unemployed may give Rubio the opening he needs in what would be a monumental upset.