Q poll: Obama up 6, Corbett approval at new low
The latest Qunnipiac University poll shows the presidential race tightening a bit in Pa, with Barack Obama leading Mitt Romney 46-40%, and voters viewing Gov. Tom Corbett more negatively than at any point in his nearly 1 1/2 years in office.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey maintains his commanding lead over GOP challenger Tom Smith, at 51-32%.
With strong support from women and independent voters, President Barack Obama leads Gov. Mitt Romney 46 – 40 among Pennsylvania voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Romney would do a better job on the economy, voters say 49 – 41 percent.
The matchup compares to a 47 – 39 percent Obama lead in a May 3 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
In today's survey, women back President Obama 51 – 36 percent, while men tip to Romney 44 – 40 percent. Obama leads 83 – 10 percent among Democrats and 43 – 35 percent among independent voters, while Republican voters back Romney 80 – 7 percent.
Pennsylvania voters say 77 – 18 percent that Obama is a likable person, compared to 58 – 29 percent for Romney. The Republican would create more jobs, voters say 45 percent, while 43 percent say Obama would create more jobs.
. . . Pennsylvania voters disapprove 47 – 36 percent of the job Gov. Tom Corbett is doing, his lowest approval rating ever and down from an all-time high of a 50 – 32 percent approval in a September 29 Quinnipiac University poll.
Women disapprove 51 – 32 percent while men arsplit with 40 percent approving and 43 percent disapproving.
. . . From June 5 – 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 997 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
UPDATE: Billy Pitman, the RNC's communications director for Pa, emails:
In today's Quinnipiac poll, only 46% of voters approve of the way the president is handling his job, while 49% disapprove. Voters see Governor Romney as the candidate who will do a better job on the economy by a margin of 49% to 41% over President Obama. Despite the president's belief that the private sector is "doing fine," Pennsylvanians clearly don't agree. Obama visits Pennsylvania to find himself ceding ground to Governor Romney, who visits this weekend and is moving within striking distance in the Commonwealth.