Election 2010: Toomey Regains Lead Over Specter

The Quinnipiac University Poll released yesterday had U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter looking past the May 18 Democratic primary election against U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak toward the Nov. 2 general election, likely a re-match against former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey.  The Quinnipiac University Poll released today shows why.

The poll said Toomey has regained the lead, 46-41 percent, in a match-up against Specter.  Specter and Toomey have been swapping the lead in polls for months.  A similar poll on March 2 showed Specter leading, 49-42 percent. The poll shows Toomey does even better -- 42-34 percent -- in a November election against Sestak.

Peter Brown, the poll's assitant director, said Specter has to deal with a third of voters who think he doesn't deserve a sixth term while Toomey has to cope with an electorate that is not that familiar with him.

Toomey nearly upset Specter in the 2004 Republican primary.  Specter switched to the Democratic party last year, saying he was not willing to have his record judged by the GOP's primary voters this year.

You can read more about today's poll here.