Republican Pat Toomey now leads incumbent Senator Arlen Specter 49% to 40% in Pennsylvania's race for the U.S. Senate. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Pennsylvania voters also finds Toomey with a 43% to 35% lead over Democratic challenger Joe Sestak. A month ago Toomey led Specter by four and Sestak by six. In the state's Democratic Senate Primary race, Specter now leads Sestak by 21 points.
Just 41% of Pennsylvania voters favor the health care legislation currently before Congress while 57% are opposed. Those figures include 22% who Strongly Favor the legislation and 47% who are Strongly Opposed. Those who Strongly Oppose the health care plan overwhelmingly prefer Toomey over either Democrat. Those who Strongly Favor the plan prefer the Democrats.
Pennsylvania attitudes towards the health care plan are similar to the national average. The health care issue played a key role in Tuesday's stunning Massachusetts special Senate election.
Just five percent (5%) of Pennsylvania voters rate the economy as good or excellent while 51% say poor. Only 31% say it's getting better, while 42% say it's getting worse.
Political analyst Larry Sabato now rates the Pennsylvania Senate race as a toss-up, but, given the current political climate, he says Toomey would be the winner if the election were held today. Sabato also projects that if the election were held today, the Democrats' 59-seat majority in the Senate would be down to 52.