Poll: Specter leads Tweety!

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Poll: Pa. voters say economy hits hard; Specter leads Matthews
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A total of 46 percent of Pennsylvania voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the way things are going in the state, compared to 52 percent who are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied.'' This matches the lowest satisfaction rate ever recorded in the state.

Still, Gov. Ed Rendell gets a 55-34 percent approval rating, his best score in 18 months. He gets a lower 42-38 percent approval rating for his handling of the economic situation.

U.S. Senate race In an early look at the 2010 U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter leads TV commentator Chris Matthews, a possible Democratic challenger, 45-33 percent. Sen. Specter leads 72-9 percent among Republicans and 45-27 percent among independent voters, while Matthews leads 55-25 percent among Democrats.

Specter gets a 62-25 percent approval rating and by a 56-23 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of him.

For Matthews, 60 percent say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

"Who says the Republicans are dead? Sen. Arlen Specter has the highest job approval rating of any major Pennsylvania Pol and would knock off Chris Matthews by 12 points if the Hardball host decides to run against him," Richards said. "Matthews has been on MSNBC wall to wall during the election season, but is a question mark for 60 percent of the voters. Specter has been relatively invisible the past year and has a strong 56 percent favorable rating.

"And economic crisis or not, Gov. 'Teflon Ed' Rendell's job approval rating remains in the mid-50s, where it has been most of the time he has been governor. Voters, however, give him mixed marks on his handling of the current economic crisis."

From November 19-24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,487 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08331/930930-100.stm

[marmar]

1. With Arlen Specter's age and health issues, shouldn't he seriously be considering retirement?

n/t

[ThomWV]

2. Somehow I have a feeling he won't be around in 2010.

As far as Republicans go Specter is probably one of the less objectionable, I will give him that. However his health is poor, the cancer is taking its toll. I do not wish the man a short life, but I think his days are numbered.

[LynneSin]

3. I don't think Tweety would run against Specter - they are good friends...

However, like many have said, Specter's health is not good and the guy is over 80. If Specter retires then I could see Chris Matthews running for office.