A GIFT HORSE

Specter Approval Slips, But He Is Strong Candidate, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Bush Tops All Possible Dem Challengers (Quinnipiac University, August 7, 2003)

Republican Sen. Arlen Specter has a 57 -- 27 percent approval rating among Pennsylvania voters, down from his 60 -- 21 percent approval February 21, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

In an early look at the 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, Sen. Specter leads U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel, his possible Democratic challenger 53 -- 29 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

In a question where no other candidate is named, Pennsylvania voters say 46 -- 40 percent that Specter should be re-elected next year.

Voters approve 56 - 28 percent of the job Sen. Rick Santorum is doing and President George W. Bush gets a 60 -- 35 percent approval rating.

"Sen. Specter enters his race for re-election in solid shape with a 57 percent approval rating, neck and neck with his Republican Senate colleague and almost as high as President Bush, who will lead the GOP ticket. Even though his numbers are down at this early stage, there is no indication he is in any kind of trouble with the voters," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

It's interesting to note, first off, that George W. Bush has a higher approval rating than either of the incumbent Republican senators, despite failing to carry the state in 2000. Second, before you take out a guy who's as well positioned for re-election as Arlen Specter, it seems like you should make damn sure the guy you want to replace him with would win too--as John Sununu was going to win if he defeated Bob Smith. That's certainly not the case here. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 11, 2003 1:09 PM