Specter Leads Sestak, Toomey In Pa. Senate Race

[Freddie Stubbs]

He's not beloved by Pennsylvanians, but Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter holds an early lead over his two chief challengers in the 2010 election, according to a survey conducted Aug. 25-31.

The Franklin & Marshall College poll of 562 registered voters found that in a 2010 primary matchup, Specter is favored by 37 percent versus 11 percent for Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak.

Six percent of Democratic respondents said they were supporting some other candidate in the May primary (state Rep. Bill Kortz also is running), while 46 percent said they weren't sure who they would back.

Looking ahead to the general election, the poll found that Specter leads former Rep. Pat Toomey, the likely Republican nominee, by a margin of 37 percent to 29 percent.

more: http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/polltracker/2009/09/specter-leads-sestak-toomey-in.html

[JPZenger]

1. "Bizarrely Large Undecided Percentage" in Gov. and Senate Races

The important thing from this poll is the huge percentage of PA. voters who say they are undecided about the Senate and Governor's race.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5523/ssp-daily-digest-93

(I'm still undecided about the Governor primary.)

Another new poll showed a huge drop in public approval of the Governor and the State Legislature, similar to the time of the pay raise debacle that resulted in the largest turnover of legislators in recent history.

All of the candidates for Governor can reasonably claim they are "outsiders" from the State budget screwup.

[PADEMJES12]

2. hmmmmm...... Joe's ship sailing against the current???

Tons of press and little movement but down for Joe. Guvs race is getting real interesting. I think it will be messy. Who knows, 25% could win, which
will put an emphasis on 2 obvious intangibles 1/ money 2/ name recognition.

[JPZenger]

3. Still a wide open race, with that high an undecided poll