Patrick Murphy

Have Anti-Abortion Ultrasound Bills Become A Republican Liability?

Pema Levy | March 1, 2012, 5:56AM

Soon after Republicans seized control of state legislatures across the country in the 2010 midterms, they began pushing a torrent of bills to restrict abortion. But many states are finding that such measures don't go over as easily in an election year -- particularly ones that mandate invasive "transvaginal" ultrasounds -- and can sometimes be a political liability.

In Virginia, conservative pro-life Gov. Bob McDonnell asked lawmakers to soften a mandatory ultrasound bill before he would sign it. Lawmakers in Alabama backed off a similar provision.

The latest of these measures is being pushed in Pennsylvania. Patrick Murphy, a former congressman who's running for state attorney general, issued a statement Wednesday condemning the bill, which some have argued goes further in its anti-abortion requirements than any other state.

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Polls

Quinnipiac Poll: Romney Leads The GOP Field in PA, Beats Obama

Kyle Leighton | August 2, 2011, 11:35AM

President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney has been the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in national polls, but we have yet to see much polling that shows him beating President Obama in a crucial swing state. But a new Quinnipiac poll shows that a plurality of GOP voters want Romney in PA, and he now leads Obama 44 - 42, inside the margin of error and therefore a statistical dead heat.

The President bests other GOP contenders, but remains under 50% in all matchups. Obama beats former PA Sen. Rick Santorum 45 - 43, Minn. Rep. Michele Bachmann 47 - 39, and Tex. Gov. Rick Perry 45 - 39. Voters in the state disapprove of Obama's performance by a 54 - 43 margin, and say the President doesn't deserve to be reelected by a 52 - 42 spread, according to the poll.

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2012 elections

Poll: Little Love For Rick Santorum In Home State

Eric Kleefeld | June 15, 2011, 1:44PM

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Rick Santorum served for 12 years as a very conservative senator from the big perennial swing state of Pennsylvania, only to lose re-election by an 18-point landslide in 2006. And as a new Quinnipiac poll suggests, if nominated for president he would again lose Pennsylvania -- and not only that, but he's not even the strongest Republican against Obama, nor is he even the favorite of Pennsylvania GOP voters for the nomination.

The poll for the Republican primary gives Mitt Romney the plurality with 21%, followed by Santorum at 16%. Sarah Palin follows with 11%, Herman Cain 8%, Ron Paul 6%, Michele Bachmann 5%, Newt Gingrich 5%, Tim Pawlenty 4%, and Jon Huntsman 1%.

For the general election, President Obama leads Santorum by 49%-38%. Mitt Romney actually does slightly better than Santorum, only trailing Obama by 47%-40%.

The poll was conducted from June 7-12. The sub-sample of Pennsylvania Republicans has a ±4.3% margin of error. The wider survey of registered Pennsylvania voters has a ±2.7% margin of error.

Pres '12

Poll: Obama Running Strong In PA Despite GOP Gains In 2010

Jon Terbush | March 7, 2011, 2:50PM

President Barack Obama

Will the GOP's resurgence in Pennsylvania last year help a Republican presidential nominee carry the state for the first time in a quarter century? Eh, maybe not.

In a recent Muhlenberg College poll of registered voters in the state, Obama comfortably topped three leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. The results suggest that despite Pennsylvania voters flocking to Republican candidates in last year's midterm elections, they're unlikely to do so again when it comes to 2012.

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2012

PPP Poll: Huckabee Ahead In 2012 Pennsylvania Primary

Jon Terbush | January 12, 2011, 2:20PM

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee leads the GOP field in Pennsylvania in hypothetical 2012 presidential primary matchups, while home state advantage only helps a former native Senator take fifth place, according to a new PPP poll.

In the poll, 21% supported Huckabee, versus 18% who backed Sarah Palin. Newt Gingrich trailed those two candidates at 16%, followed by Mitt Romney (14%) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (11%).

Huckabee's lead was even larger when PPP dropped Santorum from the slate. Sans Santorum, Huckabee led the pack with 26% to Palin's 21%, Romney's 16%, and Gingrich's 15%.

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2012 elections

Poll: Obama Leads All Challengers In PA In Hypothetical 2012 Matchups

Jon Terbush | January 6, 2011, 1:53PM

President Barack Obama

A new PPP poll of Pennsylvania voters finds President Obama in good position to again carry the important swing state in 2012 as he did two years ago.

In the poll, Obama led all hypothetical challengers, including the state's former Senator Rick Santorum. However, both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee trailed by smaller gaps than the survey's margin of error.

In a head to head mathcup with Huckabee, Obama came out on top 47% to 44%. Against Romney, that spread was one point better, with Obama edging the former Massachusetts Governor 46% to 42%. Santorum trailed by the next smallest margin, lagging the president 48% to 40%.

Both Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin trailed Obama by double digits in the poll. Against Gingrich, Obama reached the symbolic 50% threshold to Gingrich's 40%. He leads Palin 51%-36%.

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