Specter Enjoys 20-Point Lead Over Toomey

But Tom Ridge would be a stiffer challenge if he nabbed GOP nom
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted May 4, 2009 11:44 AM CDT
Specter Enjoys 20-Point Lead Over Toomey
Sen. Arlen Specter discusses his switch to the Democratic Party at the White House with President Barack Obama, left, in Washington, Wednesday, April 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Arlen Specter beat Pat Toomey 53% to 33% in a Quinnipiac poll of Pennsylvanians’ preferred candidate for US senator. But against Tom Ridge, who may become the Republican candidate, Specter's lead grows more precarious—voters prefer Specter to Ridge by a margin of 46% to 43%, the Quinnipiac poll showed.

Democrats welcomed Specter’s recent conversion to the blue side—he trounced Toomey 85% to 4% in that group. Independents may be more apprehensive about Specter 2.0: while they back him over Toomey by a healthy 9 percentage points, independents would break 47% to 37% for Ridge if he runs.
(More Arlen Specter stories.)

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