Wolf maintains big lead in Pa. governor’s primary

A new Franklin & Marshall College poll shows York businessman Tom Wolf still has a comfortable lead over three rivals in the Democratic gubernatorial primary battle in Pennsylvania. The poll shows Wolf leading his nearest rival, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz 37 to 20 percent among likely voters.

State Treasurer Rob McCord is at 12 percent in the survey, and former state environmental secretary Katie McGinty has just 3 percent.  With polling set for Tuesday, 27 percent of likely voters remain undecided.

Wolf’s lead is slightly larger when all registered Democratic voters are considered. Among that group, Wolf has 33 percent, Schwartz 14 percent, McCord 9 percent and McGinty 5 percent, with 39 percent undecided.

Poll director Terry Madonna said Wolf surged ahead with a heavy TV ad campaign featuring well-crafted ads about his family and background.

“That narrative about his life, about what he would do if elected has stuck,” Madonna said. “The other three candidates, despite running a plethora of commercials, have been unable to basically dent his lead.”

McCord and Schwartz have run tough negative ads against Wolf. Madonna said that “has not particularly helped them. It has actually driven up their unfavorables.”

The survey of 530 registered Democrats was taken between May 6 and 12.  You can find all of the poll results here.