Poll: Specter's lead in Pennsylvania shrinks

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CNN

A new poll of Pennsylvania voters suggests that Sen. Arlen Specter's lead over his most likely Republican challenger in next year's re-election battle is shrinking.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday indicates that Specter tops former Rep. Pat Toomey by nine points, 46 percent to 37 percent. That's down from a 20 point lead that Specter held over Toomey in Quinnipiac's previous poll, which was released at the beginning of May, around the time that Specter switched from a Republican to a Democrat.

The poll suggests that Specter would top Rep. Joe Sestak 50 percent to 21 percent in a probable Democratic primary matchup. On Wednesday, Sestak announced that he would challenge Specter as long as his family goes along with the decision. The poll was conducted before Sestak's decision was announced.



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

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I think Sestak's numbers will go up if he can get out there and become more well known in parts of PA where he is unknown.

[imdjh]

1. I saw the Democratic challenger (Sestek) on TV. It was sad.

It was like watching some guy on Survivor or Idol work a family crisis and playing the religious card at the same time. Not that that can't work, but you have to be good at it, so that people don't see you doing it and say, "Jesus, could you mention God and your sick daughter one more time?"

[RamboLiberal]

4. The times I've seen Sestak on TV I thought he did well n/t

[imdjh]

8. I've only seen him once. Yesterday, and well would not be the word I'd use.

He really seemed ill prepared, and at one point it seemed like he actually remembered "insert 'daughter' here" .

[RamboLiberal]

11. I just listened to him on Ed Schultz radio show and he did great

You need to watch him more. He has an impressive resume and is a vast improvement over Specter.

[T Wolf]

2. Any sign that Magic-Bullet Boy is losing ground makes for a good day. The asshole is NOT a Democrat

[razorman]

6. He's not a Republican, either.

Which means that by January, he won't be a Senator. You need to pick a side. The middle of the road is where you get run over.

[No Elephants]

9. Tell that to LIEberman.

[RamboLiberal]

12. At least in PA we have a sore loser law

So if Specter goes down in primary he can't run as an independent.

[CK_John]

3. IMO, Specter will use his sick card and not run for reelection.n/t

[No Elephants]

10. I would not vote for a sick man who will turn 81 right after he starts his new term but that's me.

[downindixie]

5. Isn't this like a strawman situation

Spe3ctor is leading a republican in a poll,but Spector will not be running in the republican primary.

[RamboLiberal]

13. The poll is about the General Election now

Pitting Dem Specter against Repuke Toomey.

[ejpoeta]

7. polling at this stage is odd to me. it is quite obvious that polls so early

can't possibly be a good indicator for an election so far away. I understand what the purpose is, but it is hard to imagine specter would maintain a 20 point lead over anyone. i am interested in the ability for a democratic rival against specter and against a subsequent republican rival.