The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows a dramatic change in the Florida governor’s race. Democrat U.S. Rep. Jim Davis is in a statistical dead heat with Republican State Attorney General Charlie Crist. The poll shows 46 percent support Crist, 44 support Davis, and 11 percent say they might still change their minds.

For someone who seemed like a shoe-in the day after the primary, Crist has been unprepared for the going to be this tough. His early commercials stressed that a vote for Crist would be the next best thing to being able to vote for term-limited Jeb again.

Until Davis started pointing out some flaws in Jeb’s policies. Then Charlie — dare we say it — flip-flopped.

…Crist’s late-season conversions, coincidentally or not, target issues that Davis has been using to make inroads into Crist’s sizable lead in the polls…

”Life’s a journey,” Crist told The Miami Herald editorial board this week, explaining why he changed his mind on felons’ voting rights…

The felon-vote issue was accompanied this week by another zigzag, when Crist said he wants to allow flexibility in the way the high-stakes FCAT test is handled…

Those are all positions that Democratic opponent Jim Davis has staked out. They are also contrary to Gov. Jeb Bush’s approach — which Crist had earlier said he supported.

As the poll shows, everybody’s not buying it.

”We are seeing a candidate for what he really is — one who will do whatever it takes to win an election,” said [Democrat] Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mendingall of Miami. “But it’s not going to work. We’re not stuck on stupid.”

And as Crist tries to distance himself from his soul-mate Jeb, he’s gotten a little taste of the big guy’s famous temper.

Some background: Crist’s ads have focused on the fact that Davis has missed votes (mostly minor ones that House Republicans have sewn up) during his campaign. After Jeb cancelled a cabinet meeting in order to give Charlie more time to campaign (Editor’s note: we’re positive Jeb would have cancelled the people’s business for a Democrat too. Not!), you could hear the testy in Jeb’s tone from here.

Citing an article in The Palm Beach Post in which Crist said he never asked for the cancellation, Bush said, “So what the heck, let’s have it.”

Finally, Florida newspapers this weekend, while still not offering proof Crist is gay, focused on his status as single and childless.

[Crist] seems to be missing one key ingredient: The typical politician pictures with his adoring wife and cute offspring.

…So does Crist’s lack of a family affect his qualifications to serve as governor?

After all, as a bachelor he has the time to devote to the demands of the office, without taking time away from his own wife and children. The same way Catholic priests can be single-minded in their devotion to their parish, Florida will get a governor who is committed full-time.

…we can’t help wonder, without those family experiences to hone skills that are also important in the political venue, can a person do as good of a job at governing and dealing with the Legislature?

Nice insertion of the priest image there. Did everyone get that? But wait, another paper took it from a different angle.

If voters choose Charlie Crist as governor, Florida won’t have a first lady. But it will have a first father.

Crist’s best friend, football-watching buddy and financial adviser is his 74-year-old father, the original Charles J. Crist, a politician in his own right who passed on his name to his only son.

You get the idea. All Davis needs now is more money since Crist’s millions have him outgunned with a deluge of ads. If you live in Florida, or if you just have some cash sitting around, go to the Davis web site and give. Hurry, the cut-off date is Nov. 2. Do it now.