Poll says Rendell would lead Corbett in a comeback bid
Gov. Corbett would trail Rendell and be tied with AG-elect Kathleen Kane in hypothetical 2014 matchups, Public Policy Polling survey finds.
Poll says Rendell would lead Corbett in a comeback bid
Pennsylvania voters take such a dim view of Gov. Corbett’s job performance that they would prefer his predecessor, Democrat Ed Rendell, by 46 percent to 40 percent in a hypothetical 2014 matchup, according to a Monday opinion survey from Public Policy Polling.
Corbett, a Republican, would be tied with Attorney General-elect Kathleen Kane at 42 percent, the poll found. She is a former county assistant prosecutor from Scranton.
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Rendell told Inquirer colleague Amy Worden.
Rendell, who was governor from 2003 to 2011, was pretty unpopular himself as he prepared to leave office. Twenty-eight percent of voters approved of Rendell’s job performance in an Oct. 2010 Franklin & Marshall College poll.
“We have nostalgia moments in Pennyslvania politics, it's not unusual,” said political guru and F&M pollster G. Terry Madonna. “But take a look at his poll numbers, they were worse than Corbett's.”
For what it's worth, the Pennsylvania Constitution limits governors to two terms. Rendell's staff, which has researched the question, say that records of the state constitutional convention make it clear that is a lifetime ban. Rendell has shown no interest in running again.
PPP found that 38 percent of voters are happy with the job Corbett is doing, compared to 52 percent who disapprove.
(updated) It should be noted that PPP is a Democratic-leaning polling company. Other, nonpartisan polls also have found relatively low job approval ratings for Corbett.
The governor leads a variety of other potential Democratic challengers by modest margins.
Corbett would lead 41/38 percent over Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; 41/37 percent over former DEP Secretary John Hanger; 42/36 percent over former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, the party’s 2010 Senate nominee; 41/35 percent over state Treasurer Rob McCord; 41/34 percent over U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz; and 41/29 percent over businessman Tom Wolf.
“The undecideds in all of these races lean strongly Democratic - they're generally voters who disapprove of Corbett but aren't familiar yet with the potential alternatives,” pollster Tom Jensen said. Corbett “continues to be one of the most vulnerable governors in the country headed into 2014,” Jensen said.
The poll is based on automated responses from 675 Pennsylvania registered voters contacted between Jan. 4 and Jan. 6. Results are subject to a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
first of all in the commonwealth of pa, the ag's office is separate from the govenors office. so rendell had no sway over what corbachev investigates or doesnt investigate. now for corbachev...voter id law-failed. corbachev: i support the penaltys against psu, now all of a sudden he doesnt??? corbachev-i am going to sell the plcb but i have no idea how the state will recoup the 1.6billon that the plcb returns to the state after the bills are paid. i will cut all funding to public schools and colleges but cut taxes for big oil companys that funded my election. corbachev the guy who took money proudly from jerry sanduskys foundation.....sadly, if the r's dont primary this guy, the commonwealth will be stuck with this bonehead for 4 more years— shelmus226- Corbett has a very, very difficult job. IMO, he (Corbett) is a very, very good Governor (and I am a Ed Rendell fan!) but has had some political misfortune along the way. I don't think Ed would want to return to his former job (he has national aspirations IMO). Corbett is doing just fine folks. The job is harder than you think.— sighpatrol
- Rendell is not worthy to be a dog catcher or trashman. His 15 minutes are long past due. He should go back to New York, except they have probably put out notice that he's not welcome there. He's not welcome here either. Schmuck.— bad joe s
- Ed Rendell to replace Corbett? No thanks. I hope Sestak throws his hat in the ring.— wokmaster
- How about the handsome Mike Stack? He's got my vote.— TheShadowKnows
- Hate to say it, but if Rendell became the next governor, Philly schools wouldn't be in the financial mess they're in now. Rendell would provide state funding and use his influence to get funding from Washington. Corbett couldn't care less about kids and education. He's too busy taking care of his filthy-rich benefactors.— Boru
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
