Sestak Leads in New Poll, Washington Republicans Panic

Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Washington Post reported on a new poll that shows Joe Sestak with a two point lead over Wall Street derivatives trader Pat Toomey. In the new poll, Sestak led 44 to  42 on the heels of a recent advertising campaign that exposed the real Pat Toomey. The poll was conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang on behalf of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

As Toomey has slipped in the polls, the National Republican Senatorial Committee panicked, dumping $1.7 million for attack ads in Pennsylvania.

“The more Pennsylvanians learn about former Wall Street derivatives trader Pat Toomey, the more support Joe Sestak receives,” said Mark Nicastre a spokesman with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “Pat Toomey’s plans to put Social Security in the hands of Wall Street bankers and his extreme record that puts him to the right of Rick Santorum is being rejected by the people of Pennsylvania. After weeks of defending his plans to privatize Social Security and his continued support for shipping jobs to China, Pennsylvanians are learning that Pat Toomey is out of touch with them. Now the Washington Republicans are panicking and throwing millions into attack ads to distort Joe Sestak’s record of standing up for the people of Pennsylvania.”

Washington Post (The Fix)
October 13, 2010

2. Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak has pulled into a statistical tie with former GOP Rep. Pat Toomey in the Pennsylvania Senate race, according to a new poll conducted for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The DSCC poll, conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang and obtained by The Fix, shows Sestak at 44 and Toomey at 42 — a marked shift from other recent public polls that have shown Toomey leading by between three and 12 points.

The poll surveyed 604 likely voters from Oct. 8-10. If voters who lean slightly toward one candidate are included, Sestak is at 47 and Toomey is at 44.

The DSCC and Sestak have both been using TV ads to hit Toomey on a trade deal with China that they say cost the United States — and Pennsylvania — jobs.

Democrats say these attacks are having a major effect on the race as is an awakening of the party’s base in the Keystone State.

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