Rep. Joe Sestak (D) has closed the gap with former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) in the Pennsylvania Senate race, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University out this morning. The survey of 1,367 shows the race tied up at 43-43, with a margin of error of 2.7%.
The TPM Poll Average for the race also shows the race to be a dead-heat, with Sestak drawing 42.6% to Toomey’s 42.5%.
Sestak — who was not the choice of establishment Democrats in part because of questions about his electability in the November race — has seen a steady increase in his poll numbers since winning the nomination May 18. But this new poll shows most voters still haven’t formed an opinion of either candidate, giving each man room to grab a lead by defining the other.
Still, the fact that Sestak is running neck-and-neck with Toomey is a real vindication for his supporters, who saw prominent Democrats from Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to officials in the White House warn the party that a Sestak candidacy would be a non-starter in the general election.
So far, the results of the general election polls show Sestak with the upward momentum, while Toomey — who is a conservative rock star and former head of the Club For Growth — is basically holding steady:
Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown said there’s silver lining for Toomey in today’s poll numbers, despite the prima facie good news for Sestak.
“Perhaps Toomey can feel good that in recent months, when all the attention was on Sestak’s primary win, he has limited the damage,” Brown said.
