Quinnipiac: Specter & Toomey in dead heat July 22 2009
Senator Arlen Specter’s wide lead over Republican Pat Toomey has evaporated, in the clearest sign yet that his party switch three months ago has damaged his credibility with voters, according to a new poll.
A Quinnipiac survey released this morning found Specter leading Toomey by a statistically insignificant one point in a general election matchup, 45 percent to 44 percent. More troubling for Specter, a near-majority of voters say he doesn’t deserve reelection, according to the poll.
It’s the first time an independent poll has showed Specter and Toomey to be effectively tied. Less than three months ago, a Quinnipiac poll showed him leading Toomey by a whopping 20 points. The survey also seemed to reflect a growing unease about the economy, with President Obama’s approval ratings in the state slipping and increasing numbers of independents and even some Democrats voicing a willingness to back Toomey, even as he remains undefined in many voters’ minds
“a near-majority of voters say he doesn’t deserve reelection”, yet he’s still in the race because Specter is a pure product of the political machine; indeed, his only strategy is to rely on the machine and his name recognition. His record is muddled, his loyalty is questionable and his voting patterns are unpredictable.
Yet the Democrats are backing him, just like the Republicans have for years. Specter, ladies and gentlemen, is the perfect illustration of what is wrong with our political system today. That a man with his long and unreliable history has survived politically for so long has nothing to do with his integrity as a Senator but his skill as a politician and his primary instinct of self-preservation. Washington has far too many jerks like this; individuals motivated primarily by amassing personal power instead of public service. Americans of all ideologies would do well to seek out these representatives and vote them out of office.
Specter would be a wonderful place to start.
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Comments, compliments or complaints?
Harl Delos Jul 22
That Quinnipiac press release says “56 percent don’t know enough about Toomey to rate him”.
That’d be to Specter’s advantage if the election were held today. Voters who are unsure tend to vote for the devil they know, rather than the one they don’t know.
From the results of the poll, I would guess that Specter is losing ground due to the economy, and health care. Not just Specter, but all the 2010 elections for the House and Senate will depend heavily on what happens in those two areas.
Toomey needs to work hard at making himself known to the folks who would like him, and keeping himself unknown to the folks who would dislike him. Without a public office to keep himself in the news, that may be expensive to do.
How has Toomey been supporting his family since he got replaced at the Club For Growth?