http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PENNSYLVANIA_GOVERNOR_POLL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=USHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell holds a double-digit lead over his only GOP challenger, former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann, and Republicans are split over whether Swann has the experience to be governor, according to a poll released Wednesday.
The poll was conducted Feb 8-13, a stretch during which Swann was constantly in the news: His last two GOP opponents dropped out, the Steelers won the Super Bowl, and the Republican State Committee endorsed him for the nomination.
The Quinnipiac University poll showed Rendell leading Swann 48 percent to 36 percent. The poll numbers are consistent with recent polling by the Connecticut-based university: Rendell led in February 2005 by 50 percent to 34 percent, and in December by 48 percent to 35 percent.
Independent voters preferred Rendell over Swann, 49 percent to 31 percent. Rendell was more popular among Democrats, 74 percent of whom supported him, than Swann was among Republicans, who had 64 percent support. Rendell also scored higher with Republicans, at 22 percent, than Swann did with Democrats, at 15 percent.