Specter Leads Sestak in Pa., but Toomey Is Ahead of Both

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter has a double-digit lead over his Democratic primary challenger, Rep. Joe Sestak, but both trail former Republican Rep. Pat Toomey in a general election match-up, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll conducted Dec. 8.

Specter leads Sestak among likely Democratic primary voters, 48 percent to 35 percent, with 3 percent preferring someone else and 14 percent undecided. Sixty-six percent see Specter favorably while 25 percent regard him unfavorably, with 8 percent undecided. Sestak is seen favorably by 48 percent and unfavorably by 22 percent, but 29 percent do not know enough about him to express an opinion.

In the general election match-up, Toomey leads Specter by 46 percent to 42 percent, with 4 percent preferring someone else and 8 percent undecided. In August, when there was that memorable photo of Specter under siege at one of the tumultuous town-hall meetings that month, Toomey had led by 12 points.

Toomey leads Sestak, 44 percent to 38 percent, with 6 percent preferring someone else and 13 percent undecided. The two had been tied in the last Rasmussen survey.