PA Polls Tighten
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: October 17, 2012
ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - Following a national trend, the race for President is getting tighter in Pennsylvania. While the polls in Pennsylvania could take another swing in the light of Wednesday night's second Presidential debate, there has been a narrowing of the gap between the major party candidates in recent weeks.
Two new Pennsylvania polls released this week indicate that the Presidential race in the state is almost a dead heat. The Quinnipiac University poll shows President Obama with a four point lead over Mitt Romney, 50 to 46 percent. The results from a second state wide poll were almost identical. The Muhlenberg College poll also shows a four percent gap between the candidates,
The results are close enough that some Republicans say Pennsylvania should now be considered a swing state. That is part of the reason Ann Romney was in the state this week.
The closer look at likely voters in Pennsylvania indicates that seven percent of voters are still open to changing their minds. Obama's lead in Pennsylvania has fallen sharply since September and gender gaps appear to be still in place with women favoring Obama and men favoring Romney.
But with the major parties still not running significant media campaigns in the state, some local Democrats believe this state in still firmly in the President's column
Another state wide race getting a lot closer is that for the U.S. Senate. The Quinnipiac poll indicates that Republican Tom Smith has closed the gap with the Democratic incumbent, Senator Bob Casey. The Quinnipiac poll has Casey ahead of his republican challenger by three points among likely voters, 48 to 45%.
Analysts point out that as recently as August, Casey had a lead of 18 %. But in part because of an aggressive advertising campaign by Smith that gap has been narrowed. Some political experts say that race should be considered too close to call.
Two new Pennsylvania polls released this week indicate that the Presidential race in the state is almost a dead heat. The Quinnipiac University poll shows President Obama with a four point lead over Mitt Romney, 50 to 46 percent. The results from a second state wide poll were almost identical. The Muhlenberg College poll also shows a four percent gap between the candidates,
The results are close enough that some Republicans say Pennsylvania should now be considered a swing state. That is part of the reason Ann Romney was in the state this week.
The closer look at likely voters in Pennsylvania indicates that seven percent of voters are still open to changing their minds. Obama's lead in Pennsylvania has fallen sharply since September and gender gaps appear to be still in place with women favoring Obama and men favoring Romney.
But with the major parties still not running significant media campaigns in the state, some local Democrats believe this state in still firmly in the President's column
Another state wide race getting a lot closer is that for the U.S. Senate. The Quinnipiac poll indicates that Republican Tom Smith has closed the gap with the Democratic incumbent, Senator Bob Casey. The Quinnipiac poll has Casey ahead of his republican challenger by three points among likely voters, 48 to 45%.
Analysts point out that as recently as August, Casey had a lead of 18 %. But in part because of an aggressive advertising campaign by Smith that gap has been narrowed. Some political experts say that race should be considered too close to call.
