Favorite Son Santorum Thumps Romney In Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds.. Ties Obama

Quinnipiac University ^ | 3-14-2012 | Quinnipiac University

[smoothsailing]

March 14, 2012 - Favorite Son Santorum Thumps Romney In Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Santorum Ties Obama In Fall Matchup

Pennsylvania Republicans are going for favorite son Rick Santorum big time, giving the former U.S. Senator a 36 - 22 percent lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Keystone State's presidential primary, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul has 12 percent, with 8 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

In a head-to-head matchup, Santorum tops Romney 52 - 32 percent among Republican voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

If Santorum gets to November, he gets 44 percent of Pennsylvania voters, to 45 percent for President Barack Obama - too close to call. In other possible November matchups: President Obama tops Romney 46 - 40 percent; Obama beats Gingrich 50 - 37 percent; The president leads Paul 45 - 40 percent. In the four-person Republican contest, Santorum leads Romney 41 - 18 percent among women and 30 - 27 percent among men, 50 - 21 percent among Tea Party members, 44 - 20 percent among self-described conservatives and 46 - 17 percent among white evangelical Christians. Romney leads 29 - 20 percent among self-described moderates.

"Pennsylvania Republicans are turning to their native son, former Sen. Rick Santorum. The last time we surveyed the Keystone State, during the Gingrich boomlet in December, the former House Speaker led the GOP pack with 31 percent, followed by Gov. Mitt Romney with 17 percent and Santorum with 9 percent," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Pennsylvania Republican women like Santorum over Romney more than men."

"Santorum's lead among conservatives, Tea Party members and white evangelical Christians is what we have found in other states," Malloy added.

"What we've also seen in other states is that Romney comes from behind, riding a tidal wave of negative advertising. Whether attack ads work against a native son remains to be seen."

....

From March 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,256 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The survey includes 508 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points.

More info and poll internals

[smoothsailing]

Santorum ping.

[Timber Rattler]

So much for Santorum not being competitive in his own state...

[samtheman]

Isn’t this one of the states that the Romney people are counting on when they do their “inevitability math”?

[cotton1706]

Since Obama is not going to get any new states, if Santorum gets Florida and Pennsylvania, it’s all over for Obama.

Even if Obama keeps Florida (unlikely), if Santorum gets Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and an industrial state like Wisconsin or Michigan, it’s still all over for Obama.

Santorum’s stronger than Romney electorally.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Very interesting!

[org.whodat]

Must not care for their native son Newt.

[Carriage Hill]

Whatever/whomever it takes to get Obummer&Co out of there in November!

[agrarianlady]

PA would be a critical win.

[smoothsailing]

Isn’t this one of the states that the Romney people are counting on when they do their “inevitability math”?

I don't know, but if it is, they need to stop counting and start panicking! LOL!

[ScottinVA]

Santorum’s stronger than Romney electorally.

I think so too, in the long run, but around here, most of what I get is, "no, it's Newt! Newt, Newt, Newt!!!!"

[skeeter]

Santorums picking up steam with each primary victory.

I think many 'cooler heads' are realizing that there is only one way to deny the nomination to Romney, regardless of which of the other candidate they personally prefer.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

April 24th is way too far away for instigating another “victory” celebration.

The momentum can change in mere hours in the midst of this chaotic primary.

See if that momentum continues after all the other states are counted between now and the 24th. Add several million in attack ads, exposing Santorum’s checkered past, and then we will see where all this party hoopla is headed.

[Antoninus]

Even though he lost in 2006 to Casey in a disaster year for Republicans, Santorum won two state-wide elections in PA and he is a PA native. He should be able to beat Obama in PA given a Republican governor and Obama's low approval rating.

Winning PA would be huge in the general election.

[cotton1706]

Well, I’m a Newt supporter too. I still think he’d be the best nominee. Romney’s a joke, his support is paper thin and he’s great at winning areas of the country that will go democrat anyway in November (surpise, surprise).

I want Newt but will easily support Santorum if he’s the nominee. Will not vote for Romney.

[Elvina]

They are starting to see the light of day around here. Santorum definitely has the best chance against Obama. People are on fire all around real America for Santorum.

[smoothsailing]

Must not care for their native son Newt.

Nope, the Newtster comes in last. Quite a fall from December when he led the pack.

[ScottinVA]

Newt would be my first choice among this very weak field, too... just that he’s fading further and further behind. Santorum is my fallback guy.

But, unfortunately, it all seems to point Romney’s way right now. ):-/

[crazydad]

I am here to tell every one now. We thought 2000 was bad, with Al Goron trying to steal the election. Watch for Obama Mohamed to cheat,lie, and even cause civil unrest to keep power. We are in for a long long November. And if Obama wins I hope the Mayans were right and the Meteor hits square on the white hut.

[Vigilanteman]

It would certainly go along way to removing the lingering stench from the only president our Commonwealth has ever produced: James Buchanan.

Seven reasons for Rick Santorum

1. Who has won the most states without the benefit of their own money, last election's organization or a billionaire casino sugar daddy?
   
2. Who is everybody's second choice when he isn't their first?
   
3. Who can get both the Romney people and the Gingrich people, who hate each other, to vote for him?
   
4. Who has the best record on immigration?
   
5. Who has the best plan for repealing ObamaCare? And is the only GOP candidate who didn't help write or approve legislation which helped spawn this fiasco?
   
6. Who has the best plan for expanding the American economy and strengthening American families?
   
7. Who is the closest thing we have to the "generic Republican" which polls show consistently beating Obama and is most likely to make the election about Obama's sorry record rather than about himself?