Former House Speaker Marco Rubio scored an easy victory over Gov. Charlie Crist in a straw ballot of Big Bend Republicans on Wednesday.

Crist shrugged off the 71-15 vote by the Capital City Republican Club. The secret vote was at least the 17th straight win Rubio has taken among county Republican Executive Committees, party clubs and other grassroots organizations.

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On Monday, Rubio got a 40-0 vote of support from the non-partisan Capital Conservatives in Tallahassee.

"It's being called the Republican conscience litmus test, this race in Florida," Greg Marr, president of the club, said at a luncheon before the straw ballot. There were no campaign pitches for either man before the ballots were distributed.

"The bottom line is not in his favor but I've been hearing about polls across the state, including his own backyard of Pinellas County, where it was incredibly lopsided," Marr said afterward. "A lot of our people have worked with the state, been involved in administrations, and we're not totally ideological but a pragmatic group."

Former state Sen. John Vogt, who was Senate president as a Brevard County legislator 20 years ago, said the straw vote "is definitely what's happening" in the hot Rubio-Crist race. Recent polls have shown Rubio surging ahead of the governor, who led by 15 percent or more just a few months ago.

"Perception is reality in politics and the perception of Charlie Crist right now is not good among conservatives," said Vogt, a Rubio supporter.

Leon County Commissioner Bryan Desloge, also a Rubio supporter, said the trend "indicates the slide of our current governor in his own party." He said Rubio "is on the national radar."

Former County Commissioner Ed Depuy and ex-city commissioner John Paul Bailey said they were not surprised by the outcome. Depuy said he backs Rubio while Bailey declined to say how he voted.

"Seven months is a long time," said Bailey, referring to the Aug. 24 primary date. "There are a lot of things that are going to happen between now and then."

Leon County Republican Chairman Dan Abel said the county Republican Executive Committee will have a straw ballot on March 9, with both Crist and Rubio invited to "a moderated question and answer session" before the vote.

Alex Burgos, a Rubio campaign spokesman in Miami, called the Capital City results "more good news from the grass roots."

At the Capitol before the local club's luncheon, Crist was asked what he thought of the straw polls going against him.

"Not a lot, as I've said before," he replied. "You know, the only poll that matters is Election Day, and I can't wait for it."