POLL: Toomey way ahead of Specter

Conservative primary challenger Pat Toomey is leading Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) by over 20% in a new Rasmussen poll.

51% of Pennsylvania Republicans prefer Toomey, compared to 30% who chose Specter.

Specter’s approval rating stands at just 42%, with 55% disapproving. That is horrible news for Specter, who has been in the Senate for almost 30 years.

More from Rasmussen:

In another sign that could be troubling for Specter, the current poll finds that 79% of Pennsylvania Republicans have a favorable opinion of the “Tea Party” protests against big government spending and higher taxes held across the nation last week. Thirty percent (30%) know someone personally who took part. Overall, 82% of Pennsylvania Republicans say that the federal government has too much money and too much power. Just four percent (4%) say it has too little.

Specter leads Toomey by just eight points among moderate Republicans statewide, but Toomey holds a solid advantage among conservative Republicans.