Politicspennsylvania governor’s racePolitics2014-polls

Tom Corbett Closes In On Rival, But Still Trails In Re-Election Bid

Tom Corbett Closes In On Rival, But Still Trails In Re-Election Bid
Reuters

By David DeKok

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct 29 (Reuters) - Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is closing in but still trails his Democratic challenger among likely voters in next week's gubernatorial election, a poll showed on Wednesday.

Democrat Tom Wolf leads 53 to 40 percent over the Republican incumbent, according to the Franklin & Marshall College poll.

The latest results show the gap is narrowing. A Quinnipiac University poll had Wolf with a 17-point lead in early October.

A loss at the ballot box on Nov. 4 would make Corbett the state's first incumbent governor to lose a re-election bid.

Corbett's gain in the poll could be due to his campaign television ads that say Wolf wants to raise taxes on the middle class, said Terry Madonna, director of the Franklin & Marshall poll.

But no incumbent governor in Pennsylvania has ever trailed by double digits this close to an election, Madonna said.

"It would be a comeback of gigantic proportions," he said.

Going after Wolf as a tax-and-spend liberal, Republicans criticize the Democratic businessman as not being forthcoming about his tax reform plans.

Wolf supports fairer taxes and no tax increase on the middle class but says many of the specifics would depend on the state's fiscal health.

Former President Bill Clinton campaigned for Wolf on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, and President Obama was expected to help out in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Among Republicans, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and Governor Rick Perry of Texas have campaigned for Corbett.

The Franklin & Marshall telephone poll of 738 registered voters, conducted October 20 to October 26, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. (Editing by Barbara Goldberg, Ellen Wulfhorst and Richard Chang)

Before You Go

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R)
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Democrats are using LePage's outspoken comments to call him an embarrassment and a detriment to the state's reputation. Republicans are defending LePage by calling him "blunt, honest, one-of-a-kind" and "unique, just like Maine."However, his Democratic challenger, Rep. Mike Michaud, may be hampered by the presence of independent Eliot Cutler on the ballot. The Democrat would become the first openly gay person ever elected governor if he wins on Nov. 4.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D)
Pat Quinn, left, and Bruce Rauner (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R)
Tom Corbett, left, and Tom Wolf (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Corbett is seriously lagging in the polls behind businessman Tom Wolf (D), who has been able to self-fund his campaign. Corbett's cuts to education spending and handling of the Penn State investigation into child sexual abuse when he served as attorney general have meant months of negative publicity. Wolf, on the other hand, has stayed up on the airwaves with sunny spots about his family business.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D)
John Hickenlooper, left, and Bob Beauprez (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Hickenlooper has been forced to defend his decision to indefinitely block the execution of Nathan Dunlap, the state's longest-serving death row inmate. Former Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-Colo.) has focused on the capital punishment issue, as well as gun control restrictions recently passed in the state, anti-fracking initiatives and proposed tax increases, to make the case that Hickenlooper's policies aren't as business-friendly as his own. While the governor has refused to air negative television ads, his Democratic allies have swooped in to protect him.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R)
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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R)
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Snyder has been leading former Rep. Mark Schauer (D-Mich.) in the polls, but labor and environmental groups think they can narrow the gap before Election Day. The governor has been running on his management of the state's economy and has vetoed bills from the state legislature on gun rights, abortion restrictions and voter identification. Schauer drew attention to Snyder's opposition to marriage equality when he chose Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown as his running mate. Brown had issued same-sex marriage licenses in opposition to Snyder's administration.Democrats have cast Snyder as out of touch, using his comments comparing disastrous flooding to a leak at his vacation home as ammunition.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R)
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Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D)
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This year's race is a rematch between Malloy and businessman Tom Foley (R), who narrowly lost to the governor in 2010. Malloy's poll numbers are hurting over economic issues, as voters express dissatisfaction with how he has handled the state budget and taxes. The governor has been highlighting his response to the 2012 mass school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, saying it demonstrates his responsiveness as a leader. In contrast, Foley has avoided giving specifics when asked which gun control measures passed by the state legislature he opposes.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R)
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