Republican Corbett Looks Strongest in Pennsylvania Governor Race

2 years ago

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Contributing Editor

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, is term-limited, and his party's field to succeed him includes three candidates who all poll within three points of each other. There's a clearer picture on the Republican side, with Attorney General Tom Corbett way out in front, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted Sept. 21-28.

On the Democratic side, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, who is expected to make a run, drew 14 percent; Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel has 12 percent; and state Auditor General Jack Wagner gets 11 percent, with all the others in single digits. Forty-six percent are undecided.

Among Republicans, Corbett polls 42 percent to Rep. Jim Gerlach's 13 percent, with 43 percent undecided.

In general election match-ups, Corbett leads Onorato, 47 percent to 28 percent, and Wagner by 44 percent to 29 percent. Corbett-Hoeffel wasn't tested.

The Democrats' problem is that their likely candidates have little name recognition around the state. Seventy-one percent of poll respondents haven't heard enough about Onorato or Wagner to have an opinion about them, and the number is 80 percent for Hoeffel. That compares to 49 percent who say they don't know enough about Corbett. Of those who do express an opinion about Corbett, 43 percent regard him favorably compared to 7 percent who do not.

Filed Under: Polls, Governors, Poll Watch, 2010 Elections

Tagged: Dan Onorato, DanOnorato, Jack Wagner, JackWagner, Jim Gerlach, JimGerlach, Joe Hoeffel, JoeHoeffel, Pennsylvania govenor race, PennsylvaniaGovenorRace, Tom Corbett, TomCorbett

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