Poll: Specter leading narrowly in potential Pennsylvania Senate matchup with Matthews

[DeepModem Mom]

PolitickerPA: August 5, 2008
Poll: Specter leading narrowly in potential matchup with Matthews
By Dan Hirschhorn

Speculation has been swirling for months that MSNBC's Chris Matthews might toss his hat in the ring to challenge U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in 2010. A poll released this morning shows that while Specter, a Republican, remains popular, Matthews could very well give him a run for his money. Specter led Matthews 41-36 percent in the Quinnipiac University poll, which surveyed 1,580 voters from July 30 to Aug. 3. The poll has a margin of error of 2.5 percent.

In the poll, 56 percent of Democrats supported Matthews, while 63 percent of Republicans backed Specter. The longtime incumbent carried independents, 44-27 percent. Specter, long dogged by health problems, recently said he would run for a sixth term in 2010, after finishing his latest chemotherapy treatments for Hodgkin's disease.

Specter, who has built a reputation as both a moderate and an iconic Republican in state politics, still has a 59 percent approval rating, according to the poll. Fifty-five percent of voters didn't know enough about Matthews to form an opinion.

"Sen. Arlen Specter remains the most respected statewide public official in Pennsylvania, but his age and health problems could make him vulnerable to a challenge from ... Chris Matthews," Clay Richards, assistant director of Quinnipiac's Polling Institute, said in a statement. Other Democrats who have been rumored to be considering a run against Specter in 2010 include U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Abington) and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Edgmont). Both are largely expected by their party to win re-election this fall, which could set them up to challenge Specter in two years.

http://politickerpa.com/danh/1091/poll-shows-specter-leading-narrowly-potential-matchup-matthews

[Parche]

1. Magic Bullet Specter

:woohoo: :hi:

[SuperTrouper]

3. Sylvester Specter the Cat

vs Tweety? That would be something to see...

[mcctatas]

2. Thank God I don't live in PA....

It would be too difficult to choose between a giant douche and a turd sandwich!

[gcomeau]

4. Perfect. Matthews runs, and Maddow gets his time slot. -nt

Edit: I hate when I respond to the wrong post...

[Virginia Dare]

5. Does Chris have a home in PA?

I thought he lived in Maryland. Of course, Ricky Santorum lived in Virginia and still ran in PA, so maybe it doesn't matter?

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Good question. I don't think he does. I think he has the house in Maryland...

and, I think, Nantucket.

[TooBigaTent]

7. Hopefully, the Dems pick a Democrat in two years. Matthews' brother is a repuke Commisar

in my home county and I don't think Chris is any more of a Dem than most of the DINO's we seem to get stuck with.

Schwartz is a DLC'er who is (unfortunately) my representative. Add Casey in as the other PA senator and I basically am without representation in DC even with two (of three) "D's" in office. Add in Fast Eddie as Gov. and it would be hard to come up with a sorrier group of Democrats.

PA as a toss-up state? More like a throw-up state.