Election 2010: Pennsylvania Governor Pennsylvania Governor: GOP’s Corbett Well Head of Three Potential Opponents
Thursday, February 11, 2010
State Attorney General Tom Corbett continues to hold big leads over three potential Democratic rivals in this year’s race for governor in Pennsylvania.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows Corbett leading former Congressman Joe Hoeffel 51% to 29%. Against Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, he leads 52% to 26%. When State Auditor Jack Wagner is his Democratic opponent, Corbett is ahead 49% to 28%.
However, in all three match-ups, at least 15% of voters remain undecided at this point.
Last month, Corbett, by far the leading GOP gubernatorial contender, held roughly two-to-one leads over four potential Democrats but earned less than 50% support in every match-up.
Incumbent Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter remains barely over 50% but still holds a 15-point lead over his Democratic Primary challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak. Little is changed this month in Pennsylvania’s overall race for the Senate, with Republican hopeful Pat Toomey still ahead of Specter by nine points.
Both parties will choose their Senate and gubernatorial candidates in May 18 primaries.
Male voters favor Corbett by substantial margins over any of the Democrats. Women voters also prefer the Republican by anywhere from seven to 13 points. Voters not affiliated with either major party support Corbett by sizable double-digit margins.
Corbett is viewed very favorably by 17% of Pennsylvania voters, while only five percent (5%) hold a very unfavorable opinion of him. Eighteen percent (18%) have no opinion of him yet.
Ten percent (10%) have a very favorable opinion of Onoroato, while the identical number (10%) view him very unfavorably.
Hoeffel is viewed very favorably by eight percent (8%) and very unfavorably by 14%.
For Wagner, very favorables total five percent (5%) and very unfavorables seven percent (7%).
One-in-three Pennsylvania voters don't know enough about any of the Democratic candidates to give even a soft favorable or unfavorable opinion of him at this point.