Pennsylvania: Sen. Specter's Standing Slips

June 25, 2009 11:38 AM | | Comments (1)

Just three in 10 Pennsylvanians think that Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter has done a good enough job to deserve re-election, according to a a Franklin and Marshall College Poll conducted June 16-21.

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Twenty-eight percent of respondents said that they would definitely vote to re-elect Specter, compared to 57 percent who said "it is time for a change." In the organization's March survey, conducted before the senator changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democratic in late April, Specter's "hard re-elect" rating was 40 percent.

The poll suggested that a likely 2010 primary between Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak will be highly competitive. Specter leads Sestak by 33 percent to 13 percent, though a large plurality of respondents (48 percent) are undecided.

As expected, Specter's job performance ratings among self-identified Republicans plunged between March and June. But the senator's approval ratings also dipped among Democrats and independents.

President Obama and Democratic Gov. Edward G. Rendell also saw their approval ratings dip "modestly," the survey analysis said, "but the change in ratings for Senator Specter is startling."

State Rep. Bill Kortz also is seeking the Democratic nomination. The likely Republican nominee is former Rep. Pat Toomey.

-Greg Giroux

To see how the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics' election map.

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Categories: Franklin & Marshall College, Senate

Tags: Pennsylvania, Sestak, Specter

    Comments

  1. Here's hoping that this poll isn't full of crap. Maybe, just maybe, Pennsylvanians have finally started to realize what a lowlife weasel Specter is.

    Posted by: NObama Author Profile Page | June 25, 2009 5:02 PM

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