August 13th, 2009
PA Sen Poll: Toomey Takes the Lead
Posted by Kyle Trygstad

A lot can change in just a couple months, and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) knows this all too well.

The five-term senator, who's been a Democrat for four months, switched parties in April after realizing he would lose to Pat Toomey (R) in a GOP primary.

However, Specter now trails the former congressman by double digits in a Rasmussen general election poll.

Toomey 48 (+9 vs. last poll, June)
Specter 36 (-14)

Specter's unfavorable rating is up to 54% from 43% in June, and much of voters' distaste appears to be due to his support for a congressional health care reform bill -- which 53% of Pennsylvanians oppose.

Of those who like the bill, 70% favor Specter to 9% for Toomey; those who oppose it favor Toomey 82%-9%.

Rasmussen released a primary survey yesterday, finding Specter's lead over second-term Rep. Joe Sestak (D) down to 13 points.

In the general election survey, Toomey (R) led Sestak (D) 43% to 35%, with 18% undecided.

http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com ... akes-lead/