LeMieux confident Crist can still pull off victory

Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) predicted Tuesday that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) would still win the state's Senate race, despite slumping poll numbers.

LeMieux, a Crist supporter who was appointed to fill the remainder of the term left by Sen. Mel Martinez (R), who retired, said he expected things to tighten in the GOP primary between Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R).

"I think it'll be a close race," LeMieux said during an appearance on MSNBC. "In Florida, it's hard to underestimate Charlie Crist."

Polls have shown Crist, a centrist Republican, falling further and further behind Rubio, a conservative Senate candidate. 

LeMieux said the governor would still be able to pull out a victory, though.

"I think he will," LeMieux said when asked if Crist would still win. "At the end of the day, they like Charlie Crist; I think he'll do well."