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A new Rasmussen survey reports that 83 percent of likely GOP primary voters will vote for the Republican presidential candidate, even if their favorite does not capture the party’s nomination.

What's more, 77 percent of those likely voters think every one of the party's presidential hopefuls would do a better job than Barack Obama.

The Anybody-But-Obama ticket leaves just 7 percent saying they will vote for the president and 5 percent opting for a third-party candidate.

That's a switch from 2008, when GOP defections and apathy doomed John McCain's campaign.

Despite early endorsements from three Florida congressmen, it's far too soon to say that the 2012 GOP favorite in the Sunshine State will be Mitt Romney.

Romney, as expected, picked up the support of U.S. Reps. Ander Crenshaw, Connie Mack and Tom Rooney this week. He also landed the formal endorsement of state Sen. John Thrasher. All had backed the former Massachusetts governor's presidential bid in 2008 and he helped boost their fundraising for 2010.

But support from party leaders doesn't ensure that the rank and file will follow, especially in an age of widespread voter skepticism and tea party insurgency.

"It was a wonderful idea when the party elites picked Charlie Crist, wasn't it?" Charlotte County tea party leader Robin Stublen asked sarcastically.

Stublen's advice to the GOP brass?

"Just stay out of the primaries," he says.

Romney, in the view of some party activists, didn't help himself by announcing he would skip the Florida GOP's Presidency 5 straw poll set for September.

And he opened himself up to attack by Jon Huntsman, who has said he will set up his national campaign headquarters in Florida. Set to formally announce his presidential bid on Tuesday, the former Utah governor has said he would participate in P5.

Andy Palmer, executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, called Romney's decision to blow off P5 "unfortunate."