Poll: Hoeffel losing labor, women to Specter

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Carrie Budoff

Inquirer Staff Writer


U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican who has worked since the April primary to attract Democratic voters, leads among traditional Democratic groups such as women and union households in his race against U.S. Rep. Joseph M. Hoeffel, according to a poll by Temple University and The Inquirer.

Specter's appeal across party lines underscores Hoeffel's challenge in unseating the four-term senator, with less than six weeks before Election Day.

In the poll of likely Pennsylvania voters, 50 percent favored Specter, 35 percent favored Hoeffel, and 15 percent were undecided. The poll, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, also showed that about half the voters still do not know enough about Hoeffel to form an opinion of him.

"Not only does Hoeffel have a tough job between now and Election Day letting people know who he is, even more difficult is once he reaches those people, he needs to persuade them that he is the appropriate person to represent them in the Senate," said associate professor Michael G. Hagen, director of Temple's Institute of Public Affairs.

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