Poll: PA Gov’s Race, Anybody’s Game

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows that with five months to go before the primary, the Democratic race for governor is wide open.

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows that with five months to go before the primary, the Democratic race for governor is wide open.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato holds a lead in the latest Quinnipiac Poll, but that doesn’t really tell the story.

He’s at 14%, with Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel trailing with 8%, and Auditor General Jack Wagner in third with a 7% margin.

69% of respondents haven’t made up their mind, and the poll shows all five Democratic candidates have very low name recognition.

Assistant Poll Director Peter Brown says the race could come down to which candidate does the best job defining himself.

Brown: This is a race, again, where voters really don’t know who these people are, and money will matter. In the ability to buy TV ads – that’s where it will matter. It will matter because they will be able to communicate their message and try to differentiate themselves from each other.

On the Republican side, Attorney General Tom Corbett leads Congressman Jim Gerlach 38 to 12.

State Representative Sam Rohrer wasn’t included in the poll.

8 in ten Republican respondents didn’t know enough about Gerlach to form an opinion.

Corbett, on the other hand, enjoys a strong approval rating.