Toomey Leads Sestak By Seven Points, New Poll Shows

A new Quinnipiac University Poll released this morning shows former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 2 general election, leading his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak by 7 points, 50-43 percent, with 7 percent undecided.  You can see the poll here.

The poll offers some awkward timing for the Sestak camp, which brought President Obama to town Monday for a high-profile fund-raiser.  Obama praised Sestak, a two-term congressman, as not like the Washington D.C. "insiders" causing problems in the Capitol.

The poll found that a majority, 52-42 percent, want a senator who opposes Obama's legislative agenda.  Forty-six percent said they want the Republicans to regain control of the U.S. Senate while 35 percent said they wanted Democrats to remain in control of the chamber and 16 percent saying it doesn't matter.  Voters have very similar feelings about whether they like or dislike Toomey and Sestak, with about one in five voters still having no opinion.

"Pat Toomey is in a good place, ahead by 7 points with six weeks to go. But Congressman Joe Sestak has proven himself a tough competitor so it's too early to order the champagne," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.