Specter has lowest ratings since 1991

A new statewide poll shows some troubling numbers for Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter.

A new statewide poll shows some troubling numbers for Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter. The newly minted Democrat faces a primary fight next year.

Listen:
[audio: 091028sdpoll.mp3]

Franklin and Marshall College Poll Director Terry Madonna says Arlen Specters’ 29% approval rating is the senator’s lowest performance since the survey began asking that question in 1991.

On top of that, just 23% of respondents say the longtime incumbent deserves another term.

Madonna: And a historically large number, 66%, say its time for a change. And what is also should be alarming for Senator Specter is that of the people who say its time for a change, we get about the same percentages of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who indicate that.

Specter leads his Democratic challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak, in a head-to-head matchup, and hes also in front of the likely Republican nominee, Pat Toomey.

But Madonna says that’s mostly due to Sestak and Toomey’s low name recognition. He notes both questions show a high number of undecided voters.