Poll confirms solid lead for Obama in Pennsylvania

President Obama is showing a solid lead in two polls of registered Pennsylvania voters.  The president also appears to be out in front in two other key battleground states.

 

A Franklin and Marshall College Poll shows a gap of 11 points between Mr. Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney among likely Pennsylvania voters.

Pollster Terry Madonna says Romney’s favorability ratings in this survey are “much lower” than John McCain’s scores were in 2008. He says most voters judge Mister Obama to be better equipped to handle the economy, foreign policy issues, and serve as commander-in-chief.

“The things that voters are really likely to cast a vote on, the president simply does better,” said Madonna.  “His nine point lead among registered voters is very, very consistent with the vast majority of polls that have been out in the last couple of weeks.”

Madonna says it would be hard for Romney to cut that lead.

“The fundamental problem that Governor Romney faces is that he just simply has not defined himself, he’s not been specific about what he will do if elected, and I think that’s been a serious problem for him,” said Madonna.  “Additionally, he’s not been able to make himself substantially more popular with the voters.”A survey by Quinnipiac University also finds the president leading over Romney in Pennsylvania as well as two other big electoral prizes, Ohio and Florida.

The findings conflict with those of a state Republican party internal poll released last week, which showed the presidential race to be a virtual tie in the commonwealth.

Read the Franklin and Marshall College poll released September 26, 2012.

 

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Franklin and Marshall College Poll Release9 26 12 (PDF) Franklin and Marshall College Poll Release9 26 12 (Text)