Poll: Specter Would Be Crushed By GOP Primary Challenger Toomey

The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows that Republican Sen. Arlen Specter may have trouble holding onto his seat in 2010. He's trailing former Congressman Pat Toomey 41 to 27 percent in the primary. Twenty-eight percent are undecided, however.

"Pennsylvania Republicans are so unhappy with Sen. Specter's vote for President Barack Obama's Stimulus Package and so-called pork barrel spending that they are voting for a former Congressman they hardly know," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Republican voters disapprove of his vote on the stimulus 70 to 25 percent. Democrats overwhelmingly support the move 87 to 6 percent.

Overall, Pennsylvania voters have a 45 to 31 percent favorable opinion of Sen. Specter, but he gets a 47 to 29 percent unfavorable score from Republicans. The Republican is more popular with Democrats, getting a 60 to 16 percent positive score and a 41 to 35 percent positive from independent voters. Even though Toomey lost the 2004 Republican primary to Specter by less than two points, 78 percent of all voters, including 73 percent of Republicans, don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

A separate Franklin & Marshall poll showed that half of Republicans in the state believe it is time for a new senator.

Comments

[Fez]

How about the Republicans replace Arlen Specter with Phil Spector? I just know Phil would kill in the job as US Senator.

[oldgeek1]

The GOP certainly likes to throw its own under a bus.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Arlen Specter needs to realize his party left him behind over the last two decades. There is no moderate wing of the Republican Party, but only stragglers who never made the conversion to brown shirted radicals.

As an independent I am loathe to overlook his record in office as our Senior Senator from PA. During the Bush II Regime he acquiesced far too often to abbrogate our Civil Liberties, and to avoid investigations of a critical nature into Executive Branch law-breaking, and the root details of 9-11.

Arlen has been a man straddling the sea with a foot on two ships, ... trying to be all things to all people. Now that his party's ship has tacked hard to the starboard, he is about to fall into the gap between his stands.

For myself, I will NEVER wear the Republican label again, ... not even for a single day to afford Specter the opportunity to stay affiliated with his sick party. No, ... Arlen can become a democrat, and I may vote for him in the General election, or he may lose at his bid to defy the radicals in his party. He can become an independent and lose in the General as no independent will survive in PA in a run for office.

I prefer the Democrats find a well-qualified and articulate candidate of their own, Like Allyson Schwartz, to take Specter's place as Senator.

[radiojunkie]

"he is about to fall into the gap between his stands."

another republican with a wide stance?

[chris stl]

Democrats and independents shoould help out this old trooper in the primaries ...
TaurusTrader
http://taurustrader.wordpress.com

[TheIndependenceParty]

This 'old trooper' has been on the wrong side of "right" too often. It is Specter who must change his party affiliation and not independents and democrats!

[Agentprovokatur]

Agreed.

The problem Specter and other "moderate" Republicans are facing is the further hijacking of the GOP by the extreme right. Due to the nature of primaries with their typically lower turn out, often being restricted to party members only, and the motivations of the extremists to "get out the vote" this next cycle they threaten to create the "perfect storm" for the removal of moderate Republicans. While Specter has proven a bit helpful to progressive causes perhaps it's for the best.

He can either switch parties now and tow the Democratic line or prepare for removal. His wavering on recent legislation he previously supported in order to appease the right-wingers indicates his utility to progressive causes is over. I don't even want to think how he'll be acting if Ginsberg steps down and there is a fight over a SCOTUS replacement.

Let the Republicans take him out in the primaries. When faced with the choice between one of their extremists and a Democrat, the people of Pennsylvania will likely choose the Democrat and we'll be one seat closer to shutting the Republicant "faux-filibuster" machine down.

[UncleJimbo]

This is just one more seat in the Northeast the Republicans will lose! I'm from Allentown Pa. and I didn't vote for Toomey when he was my Congressman! And I wouldn't vote for him for Senator! ANY Democrat running will win the seat in the next election! Pa is solid Blue!

[ggmome]

Specter has long since been 'one to go'. However, he will be replaced by a Democrat.

[hotwire]

It really doesn't matter. Fast eddie, "never saw a tax I didn't like Rendell", is going after that Senate seat. Yes, good ole Eddie, who said "give me gambling and, I promise, I'll give you property tax relief". Where is it Eddie? Whats it been Eddie, 5,6,7 years now? He tried to make I-80 a toll road, he's always looking for a way to squeeze us. Specter wouldn't stand a chance at re-election anyway. Eddie already said he wanted Specter's seat, and I'm sure he'll get it, so quit griping people, fast Eddie is way more Liberal than Specter. Good in a way I guess, then he can squeeze the whole country instead of just us. He'll fit right in with Obamas tax and spend philosophy.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Rendell is pragmatic and connected, and a progressive. Have you ridden the PA Turnpike lately? It is in the best condition in decades! Not fond of his bent for gambling revenues, but most politicians seem to like bilking the suckers in their states.

I would support and campaign for Ed Rendell to replace Arlen Specter. Specter feels entitled to his office, and that is a sure sign he needs to leave it!

[XLintLuvR]

Actually, I have riddent the PA Turnpike. Had a spin out on black ice. I know it's not fair to make him wear the black eye for that, but hey!.... you asked. lol

[JiminNC]

He can decide if he wants to be a senator or a republican.

[Eris23Skidoo]

John Adams used to be a Tory as well.

[Anastasia]

The easy solution is to switch parties. It's not as if the Republicans have been kind to him lately.

[loki]

yup, Arlan Sphincter should go. But also Pelosi , Reid, Dodd, and the rest of the crooks on all sides of the isle. Oh, the reason I didnt list any republicans besides Sphincter, is because they are all crooks right now.

[triplbee]

I see a party switch in this man's future.

[hotwire]

He's too old, and besides he's not in good health either. You may be right though, you know how politicians are, you almost have to wheel them out on a gurney, or a body bag.

[triplbee]

I think you're right. He is a cancer survivor and he'll be 80 years old in 2010. It's probably time for him to retire.

[Agentprovokatur]

Would have been nice to see someone stick to his principles at the potential (and it wouldn't be certain) cost of his job.

But what am I thinking, such selflessness from a politician, let alone a Republican.

Silly me.

[SupportTech2]

Thats why he disagrees with the repugs....­principles

[surfcitysteven]

It soundee to me like Specky gonna have to make decision soon! Stay with losy losy team who notso much likey him, or maybe ask for trade to win win team.

[SidChimaera]

another democratic seat :D

[mlaiuppa]

Does Specter really think that voting against the Employee Free Choice Act is somehow going to get the GOP behind him and he'll win re-election as a Republican?

Does he think that voting against the EFCA is going to gain him any Democratic supporters?

Maybe it's time for Specter to retire.

[jcwtts1]

No he thinks he is going to retire. He can't win the primary, there is no mechanism for independents in PA and the dems are going to win the seat anyway. Seriously this was his farewell. He voted against Card Check so that he can sit on some huge boards and rake in millions of dollars for his children. He is done and he knows it.