Poll: Specter Trails After Attack Ads
Rasmussen Reports Poll: Sestak Ahead By 5 Points
PHILADELPHIA - A detailed look at new Rasmussen poll data shows Sen. Arlen Specter trails in the Democratic primary because his campaign offended liberals and conservatives.
In particular, younger voters, conservatives and liberals have swung to Rep. Joe Sestak in a big way after weeks of Specter campaign ads that attacked Sestak’s military record as an Admiral and his payment of campaign workers.
In the latest Rasmussen polling data taken last Friday, Sestak has 47 percent of the primary vote among Democrats, while Specter has 42 percent. About 8 percent of likely Democrat voters are still undecided.
About 35 percent of likely voters had a negative opinion of Specter’s campaign, including attack ads about Sestak’s military record.
In detailed data obtained by MyFoxPhilly, the polling shows Specter faces a big challenge on many fronts in next Tuesday's Democratic primary.
The survey only polled likely Democratic voters, but it shows that 87 percent of voters under 30 years of age will vote for Sestak, as well as 54 percent of people between 40 and 49 years of age.
Moreover, 51 percent of conservative Democrats and 56 percent of liberal Democrats will vote for Sestak. About 46 percent of moderates plan to vote for Specter.
Last April, Sen. Specter switched parties after he supported Obama's stimulus plan.
The data also show that Specter is being cast more as running a negative campaign. About 41 percent of liberals say Specter’s campaign is negative, compared with 10 percent of liberals who say the same thing about Sestak’s ad s.
The Specter attack ads question Rep. Sestak’s military record and his payment of campaign workers.
Sestak ads about Specter label him as a Republican, say Spercter wasn't truthful about Sestak's militray record, and show Specter shaking hands with Sarah Palin.
In terms on economics, Sestak is more liked by voters making more than $40,000 a year, and has a significant lead among Democrats who favor the Obama health care plan.
Specter’s strongest numbers are among voters who are moderates, voters making less than $20,000 a year, among voters between 30 and 39 years of age, and among voters unsure of where they stand on ideology and health care.
The poll data is surprising considering Specter is a long-term veteran of Washington, and had a 51% to 36% lead in February.
Rasmussen sayd 408 likely Democratic voters took part in the survey. The margin for error is 5 percent.
The primary election is next Tuesday.