Pat Toomey holds a five-point advantage (45 percent-40 percent) over Joe Sestak, with 13 percent of voters undecided, according to a poll conducted by Suffolk University’s Polling Research Center.  In the race to succeed Governor Ed Rendell, Tom Corbett leads Dan Onorato, 47 percent-40 percent, with 12 percent of voters yet to decide.

Meanwhile, 43% of respondents said they plan to vote for the Republican candidate in their local congressional race, compared to 39% for the Democrats.

“Republicans are headed for potentially a double-win,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Polling Research Center.  “But our numbers seem to be a little closer than most are showing.”  The Real Clear Politics polling average shows Toomey with a 6.5 percent lead and Corbett with a 9.2 percent advantage in surveys conducted over the last two weeks.

38 percent of respondents hold a favorable view of Toomey, while 33 percent view him unfavorably (22 percent undecided).  34 percent view Sestak favorably and 39 percent hold an unfavorable view (21 percent undecided).

Among the gubernatorial candidates, Corbett is viewed favorably by 41 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 24 percent (26 percent undecided).  34 percent view Onorato favorably, while 29 percent have an unfavorable view (25 percent undecided).

Paleologos also noted Hillary Clinton’s popularity in Pennsylvania as measured in the Suffolk University survey, calling it “pretty dramatic.”  56 percent of respondents have a favorable opinion of her, compared to 24 percent who view her unfavorably.  Among those undecided in the gubernatorial race, Paleologos noted, those numbers jump to 66 percent favorable and 24 percent unfavorable.  “If there’s a catalyst out there for the Democratic Party, I believe it’s Hillary who could potentially play a major role in races, starting in Pennsylvania,” he said.

The Suffolk University poll was conducted between September 23 and September 27 and surveyed 500 likely voters in Pennsylvania.