April 29, 2013

Quinnipiac Poll: Anyone But Corbett

Each of three leading Democrats who might challenge Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett for reelection in 2014 lead the Republican incumbent by margins of 9 percentage points or higher, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Monday.
Pennsylvania voters disapprove 47 - 38 percent of the job Gov. Corbett is doing, continuing a four-month string of negative scores in surveys by the independent Quinnipiac University.
With a 2-1 thumbs down from women, voters say 50 - 32 percent that Corbett does not deserve reelection. Saying no to four more years are women, 54 - 27 percent, men, 46 - 39 percent, Democrats, 73 - 13 percent, and independent voters, 49 - 27 percent. Republicans favor reelection 60 - 25 percent.
An early look at the 2014 Pennsylvania governor's race shows:
-- Former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak tops Corbett 48 - 34 percent, including 45 - 29 percent among independent voters:
-- U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz is ahead 47 - 34 percent, including 45 - 27 percent among independent voters:
-- State Treasurer Rob McCord is up 44 - 35 percent, including 40 - 30 percent among independent voters:
"Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett gets a triple dose of bad news. Three Democratic challengers would beat him handily if the election for governor were held today," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Fortunately for Gov. Corbett, the election is not today. He has 18 months to turn things around."
In each matchup, Pennsylvania women voters back the Democrat by margins of more than 18 percent.
Corbett gets a negative 29 - 43 percent favorability rating from voters. The percentage of voters who don't know enough about the Democratic contenders to form an opinion ranges from 58 percent to 85 percent.
Democratic Primary
In a possible Democratic primary for governor, 59 percent of voters are undecided. Sestak gets 15 percent, with 15 percent for Schwartz and no other candidate above 3 percent.
"Pennsylvania voters, even Democrats, don't know much about the challengers in the 2014 governor's race," Malloy said.
"Right now, voters are doing their ABCs - Anyone But Corbett."