.jpg)
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – A majority of voters in the Keystone State would back Bob Casey in the election to the United States Senate, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 52 per cent of respondents in Pennsylvania would support the Democrat, while 34 per cent would vote for Republican incumbent Rick Santorum.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – A majority of voters in the Keystone State would back Bob Casey in the election to the United States Senate, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 52 per cent of respondents in Pennsylvania would support the Democrat, while 34 per cent would vote for Republican incumbent Rick Santorum.
Casey has been Pennsylvania’s state treasurer since January 2005, and previously served as the state auditor general for eight years. Casey is the son of former Pennsylvania governor Robert P. Casey, and lost the 2002 Democratic primary to current governor Ed Rendell.
Santorum was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994, and earned a second term in 2000, defeating Democrat Ron Klink with 53 per cent of all cast ballots. He had previously served for two consecutive terms in the House of Representatives.
Since May, backing for Casey increased by three points, while support for Santorum fell by two points. On May 16, Casey defeated university professor Chuck Pennacchio and attorney Alan Sandals in the Democratic primary with 85 per cent of all cast ballots.
Earlier this month, the two campaigns released new radio advertisements. The Republican spot claims that Casey “joined with Ted Kennedy and other liberals in supporting a bill that grants amnesty to millions who’ve entered our country illegally.” The Democratic ad suggests Santorum changed his stance on illegal immigration as the election neared.
In a survey by Strategic Vision, Casey holds an nine-point advantage over Santorum.
The Democrats have not elected a Pennsylvanian to a full term in the U.S. Senate since 1962. The election is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Polling Data
a) If the 2006 election for senator were being held today, and the candidates were Bob Casey Jr. the Democrat and Rick Santorum the Republican for whom would you vote?
Jun. 2006 | May 2006 | Mar. 2006 | |
Bob Casey Jr. (D) | 52% | 49% | 48% |
Rick Santorum (R) | 34% | 36% | 37% |
Someone else | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Would not vote | 1% | 2% | 2% |
Not sure | 12% | 12% | 12% |
Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,076 Pennsylvania voters, conducted from Jun. 13 to Jun. 19, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
b) If the election for United States Senate were held today, and the choice was between Bob Casey, Jr., the Democrat and Rick Santorum, the Republican, whom would you vote for?
Jun. 2006 | May 2006 | Apr. 2006 | |
Bob Casey, Jr. (D) | 49% | 49% | 50% |
Rick Santorum (R) | 40% | 41% | 40% |
Other | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Undecided | 10% | 9% | 9% |
Source: Strategic Vision
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,200 registered Pennsylvania voters, conducted from Jun. 9 to Jun. 11, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
