Corbett slumping in Quinnipiac Poll

Pennsylvania Gov. Corbett struggles with a 39 percent approval rating, a majority of registered voters say he does not deserve reelection, and several potential Democratic rivals would lead him in head-to-head matchups, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

Women disapprove of Corbett's job performance 53 percent to 33 percent. He runs better among men, who approve 47 percent to 44 percent.

Fiftty-three percent of voters said the governor does not deserve reelection, to 35 percent who said he does.

In an early look at the 2014 race, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak would run strongest against Corbett, leading the incumbent 47 percent to 38 percent. Sestak has repeatedly declined to comment on his plans.

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, who is actively exploring a campaign against Corbett, would lead 42 percent to 39 percent, the poll found.

The governor would lead former state environmental secretary John Hanger 42 percent to 41 percent; businessman Tom Knox 40 percent to 39 percent;  and state Treasurer Rob McCord 42 percent to 38 percent.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski would lead Corbett 44 to 38 percent; state Sen. Mike Stack (D.,Phila.) would lead the governor 40 percent to 39 percent; and businessman and former revenue secretary Tom Wolf would run even with Corbett, 39 percent to 39 percent.

"It's still early, but Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is going nowhere, and maybe even sliding a little as he prepares for what could be a tough reelection fight," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"The fact that these relative unknowns top or tie Corbett signals a tough road to reelection." Malloy said.

From March 6 to 11, university pollsters surveyed 1,116 Pennsylvania voters, with responses subject to a margin of error of  +/- 2.9 percentage points.  Live interviewers called land lines and cell phones