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Poll: Almost all Dem candidates lead Corbett in potential 2014 matchups

Pollster says 'voters deliver a big bag of coal' to Corbett.

The 2014 Pa. governor's race officially starts Tuesday at 8:01 p.m. U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (left) is among the Democrats seeking to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett's run for a second term. (File Photos)
The 2014 Pa. governor's race officially starts Tuesday at 8:01 p.m. U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (left) is among the Democrats seeking to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett's run for a second term. (File Photos)Read more
    by BY CHRIS BRENNAN, Daily News Staff Writer <a href="mailto:brennac@phillynews.com">brennac@phillynews.com</a>, 215-854-5973
    Published 

GOV. CORBETT is now in full re-election campaign mode, but his popularity continues to tank.

A Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday shows that 56 percent of registered voters in the state think Corbett doesn't deserve a second term next year.

That's Corbett's worst approval rating ever in the poll.

The poll also found Corbett trailing almost all the Democrats who want to challenge him in the 2014 general election.

A Democrat who has not even entered the race, former state Auditor General Jack Wagner, leads Corbett 48-36 percent.

Among the declared candidates for the May 20 Democratic primary election, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz has the best lead on Corbett at 45-37 percent.

The poll also found:

* State Treasurer Rob McCord leads Corbett 42-39 percent.

* Former state Environmental Protection Secretary Katie McGinty and former state Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf each lead Corbett 44-37 percent.

* Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski leads Corbett 41-39 percent.

* Corbett leads just one Democrat, former state Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, 42-37 percent.

"Pennsylvania voters deliver a big bag of coal to Gov. Tom Corbett and directions to the State House exit as he heads into the holidays with the worst net approval rating he has ever had," Tim Malloy said in a news release with the poll. Malloy is assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Corbett's campaign quickly shrugged off the bad numbers.

"This race will be a marathon, not a sprint," Corbett campaign manager Mike Barley said. "Gov. Corbett is well within striking distance of his opponents, who are still struggling with very low name ID."

Jim Burn, chairman of the state Democratic Party, used the poll to knock Corbett on education funding and job creation.

"Tom Corbett's record has assured that Pennsylvanians will elect a Democratic governor in 2014," Burn said.

The pollsters also asked voters about their thoughts on gambling. They found a mixed bag: 55 percent said the state's casinos were a good thing, but 57 didn't want one in their town or city.

They also oppose legalizing online gambling 62-33 percent. Seventy percent said such a move would increase gambling addiction in the state.