HAMDEN, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Former Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist is doing well as governor, while current Attorney General Bill McCollum may replace Crist again if Crist decides to run for U.S. Senate, a recent poll shows.

The pair of Republicans may make a strong tandem in 2010, according to a poll conducted by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Crist, the attorney general until 2006, has a 64 percent approval rating, with only 22 percent disapproving.

The approval ratings of both Democrats and Republicans were more than 60 percent. Voters would prefer he remain governor instead of making a run at the U.S. Senate by a 42-26 margin.

Should he leave the Governor's Office, though, McCollum may be a strong candidate to replace him.

His approval rating is 30 percent more than his disapproval (48-18). Potential Democratic candidate Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer, has a 33 percent approval rating and 22 disapproval.

Quinnipiac surveyed 1,332 Florida voters. The poll has a margin of error of plus/minus 2.7 percent.

"Given the Governor's popularity, he is likely to be a strong candidate for whichever office he seeks," said Peter Brown, executive director of the polling institute. "The other potential candidates for the Senate are not nearly as well-known or as well-liked as is Crist."

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.