Quinnipiac Poll: Specter Leads Sestak
Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter leads Democratic primary challenger, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak 53 - 29 percent and has pushed ahead of Republican Pat Toomey 49 - 42 percent in a general election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, up from a 44 - 44 percent tie December 18. In a battle of the unknowns, Toomey leads Sestak 39 - 36 percent with 24 percent undecided.
President Barack Obama's job approval rating in Pennsylvania remains below 50 percent, at 49 - 46 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Fewer than one in five Pennsylvanians think the federal government in Washington, or the state government in Harrisburg, does the right thing almost all or most of the time.
"Sen. Arlen Specter seems to be having a good winter politically. He is back ahead of Republican Pat Toomey after having been essentially tied with him since last summer, and there remains no evidence that his primary challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak, has made much progress as we get within three months of the May primary," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Specter's lead over Toomey is built upon a 52 - 36 percent margin among women voters, while Toomey has a small 49 - 46 percent lead among men, an indication that the gender gap remains alive and well.
"Specter's edge is that he is so much better known than his challengers at this point. Only 11 percent of voters say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion," said Brown, "while 74 percent of voters including 73 percent of Democrats say Sestak is too unfamiliar for them to have an opinion."
"Toomey remains unfamiliar to 65 percent of voters. Toomey has eight months to close that gap, but Sestak has a much shorter timeline, given the May 18 primary," Brown added.
But Pennsylvania voters say 52 - 38 percent Specter does not deserve another term in the Senate. Voters give Specter a narrow 48 - 45 percent approval rating. By comparison, the state's other Democratic U.S. Senator, Bob Casey Jr., gets a 53 - 29 percent approval rating.
Among Democrats who have some opinion of both Specter and Sestak, Sestak leads 54 - 37 percent.
Although he was a Republican until last April, Democrats say 48 - 29 percent that Specter more than Sestak shares their values.
For more on the poll, go here.
President Barack Obama's job approval rating in Pennsylvania remains below 50 percent, at 49 - 46 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Fewer than one in five Pennsylvanians think the federal government in Washington, or the state government in Harrisburg, does the right thing almost all or most of the time.
"Sen. Arlen Specter seems to be having a good winter politically. He is back ahead of Republican Pat Toomey after having been essentially tied with him since last summer, and there remains no evidence that his primary challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak, has made much progress as we get within three months of the May primary," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Specter's lead over Toomey is built upon a 52 - 36 percent margin among women voters, while Toomey has a small 49 - 46 percent lead among men, an indication that the gender gap remains alive and well.
"Specter's edge is that he is so much better known than his challengers at this point. Only 11 percent of voters say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion," said Brown, "while 74 percent of voters including 73 percent of Democrats say Sestak is too unfamiliar for them to have an opinion."
"Toomey remains unfamiliar to 65 percent of voters. Toomey has eight months to close that gap, but Sestak has a much shorter timeline, given the May 18 primary," Brown added.
But Pennsylvania voters say 52 - 38 percent Specter does not deserve another term in the Senate. Voters give Specter a narrow 48 - 45 percent approval rating. By comparison, the state's other Democratic U.S. Senator, Bob Casey Jr., gets a 53 - 29 percent approval rating.
Among Democrats who have some opinion of both Specter and Sestak, Sestak leads 54 - 37 percent.
Although he was a Republican until last April, Democrats say 48 - 29 percent that Specter more than Sestak shares their values.
For more on the poll, go here.
.jpg)
Comments