McBride, Reno in dead heat, poll shows.(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla._A week ago it looked like a blowout race, but the Democratic primary for governor is looking more like a fight to the finish with Bill McBride and Janet Reno in a statistical dead heat, a South Florida Sun-Sentinel poll shows.

In a remarkable turnaround, McBride has closed the gap to a 3-point margin _ too close to call _ in his underdog challenge to Reno for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

The poll confirms what McBride campaign officials have been suggesting for days: There has been a rapid swing of undecided Democrats to McBride, providing a momentum that some think could carry McBride into the lead by the primary on Sept. 10.

McBride, a Tampa lawyer who has been considered until recently a long shot as the Democrats' nominee for governor, appears to be within striking distance and is telling supporters that he also has Gov. Jeb Bush on the defensive.

However, Reno, the former U.S. attorney general who enjoys widespread name recognition and strong support in South Florida, still is the frontrunner in the race, with support from 37 percent of the likely Democratic primary voters statewide, compared to 34 percent support for McBride. Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami is a distant third with 11 percent.

Another 18 percent of the likely voters say they don't know who will get their vote.

The poll surveyed registered Democrats statewide who are likely to vote in the Sept. 10 primary.