Clinton, Giuliani lead packs in early PA polling

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 8 February 2007) – Pennsylvania Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Republicans prefer Rudy Giuliani and a general election between the two would be close, according to an early presidential poll.

A Quinnipiac University survey of Keystone State Democrats has Hillary Clinton at 38 percent, followed by John Edwards, Al Gore and Barack Obama in a three-way tie at 11 percent. Joe Biden stands at 5 percent.

Giuliani has the edge among Pennsylvania’s GOP voters with 30 percent, besting John McCain’s 20 percent, Newt Gingrich’s 14 percent and Mitt Romney’s 4 percent.

Hillary Clinton trails head-to-head match-ups with Giuliani by 3 points and McCain by 1 – putting both hypothetical contests within the margin of error.

Pollster Clay Richards says Pennsylvanians are warm to both New Yorkers – Hillary, probably because she has been so well known for so long, and Giuliani, perhaps, because of the commonwealth’s connection to 9/11.

"Of course, one of the planes crashed in Pennsylvania, so while the attack was not in Pennsylvania, the impact was in Pennsylvania, and they all looked to Giuliani as being a hero in that situation. And with the problems the President has gotten into in Iraq, he’s not looked at as a hero anymore, so there has to be someone to inherit that mantle. And Giuliani clearly does," Richards says.

Of those who got support, only Gore has not launched a campaign.