For the third straight day, a poll has been released giving Specter cause for serious concern. Following in the heels of two partisan polls and a SurveyUSA poll, a Quinnipiac University
poll gives Specter weak reelect marks:
Specter Someone Don't Know
Else
All 36 44 19
Reps 40 42 18
Dems 36 45 19
Indies 30 47 22
Interesting results. Republicans are just slightly more likely to want Specter around, showing the senator has serious problems with his base -- problems that wingnut challenger Rep. Pat Toomey is exploiting to good effect. But worst of all for Specter is the independents, who seem to be seriously looking for an alternative -- more so than even Democrats.
For a "moderate" senator who likes to sell himself as an independent, those numbers can't be too comforting. The Q-poll has no Specter/Toomey matchup numbers, which at this point are far more important than the general election matchups. But even the Specter/Hoeffel numbers are trending our way. 3/9-15. MoE 3.1%. (2/10-16 results)
Specter 45 (50)
Hoeffel 29 (31)
Don't Know 20 (14)
Notice that Hoeffel's numbers have actually dipped, suggesting that Specter is slipping on his own, independent of anything Hoeffel is doing. In fact, Specter's numbers are probably taking a beating thanks to Toomey's efforts. Hoeffel can bide his time and
fundraise and work on his name ID while Specter and Toomey deplete their war chests against each other.