Santorum opens wide lead over Romney in Pennsylvania poll

AP Photo/Eric Gay

Following his surprising victories in Mississippi and Alabama, Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum on Wednesday received some good news from his home state of Pennsylvania: The latest poll there shows he's established a clear lead over his GOP rival Mitt Romney.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows that 36 percent of Pennsylvania Republicans favor Santorum in the GOP primary, while 22 percent support Romney. Another 12 percent support Ron Paul while 8 percent back Newt Gingrich.

Most candidates would expect to have a clear advantage in their home state -- Romney and Gingrich both won their respective home states, though Romney's Michigan victory was slim. After beating Santorum by just a few points in Michigan, Romney said he won "by enough."

Santorum only started to take the lead in Pennsylvania polls last month. The last Quinnipiac survey of the state, conducted in December, showed Gingrich with a clear lead and Santorum in single digits.

Since that December poll, however, Santorum has clearly overshadowed Gingrich as the conservative choice in the primary, setting up a two-man race between Santorum and Romney.

If that dynamic persists through to the Pennsylvania primary on April 24, the former senator's prospects look even better in the state: In a head-to-head matchup against Romney, the Quinnipiac survey shows Santorum leading Romney 52 percent to 32 percent among Republican voters.

Santorum also performs well in a matchup against President Obama, statistically tying the president and, in fact, performing slightly better against Mr. Obama than Romney does. If he makes it to the general election, the poll shows that Pennsylvania voters would give Mr. Obama just a one-point edge over Santorum, 45 percent to 44 percent. Against Romney, Mr. Obama wins 46 percent to 40 percent.

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Rick Santorum on the campaign trail

[BGASH89]

Dear biased liberal media,

Michigan is not Mitt Romney's hometown. He hasn't lived their since he was around ten years old. His home state is Massachusetts, where he carried 72% of the vote. But of course you don't want to report that.

You are pathetic.

[alinrodneyvil]

I don't believe that poll for a minute. This is the same state that he lost his Senate seat by 17 points six years ago. How the Hell did he get to be so popular now? He wasn't even in the race until all the other crazies dropped out. He's the last Mental Case standing. Besides in both Michigan and Ohio he was ahead of Romney by over 10 points ten days before the election and ended up losing both of them. Most of this crap is made up by and pushed by the media. This Bozo is a frigging loser.

[alinrodneyvil]

I don't believe that poll for a minute. This is the same state that he lost his Senate seat by 17 points six years ago. How the Hell did he get to be so popular now? He wasn't even in the race until all the other crazies dropped out. He's the last Mental Case standing. Besides in both Michigan and Ohio he was ahead of Romney by over 10 points ten days before the election and ended up losing both of them. Most of this crap is made up by and pushed by the media. This Bozo is a frigging loser.

[nancy_naive]

Hey Rick,

Go in Peace, the math has ended.

[twmat311]

This headline makes me nauseous, as a PA resident. It confirms what I thought, when we elected our illustrious governor, and re-elected the hacks we have in Harrisburg: we're so close to bottom of the political evolutionary ladder, it's scary.

[Herne42]

Im also a P.A. resident....i agree with ya 100% an @.

[nancy_naive]

Pennsylvania -- Pittsburg on one end, Philadelphia on the other, and a whole lot of Alabama in between.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

As fatty foods are now shown to lower men's sperm count, any day now Santorum will surely annouce that, as president, he'll call for outlawing all fast food rstaurants....

[AOCGUY]

Could it be consider a sin to eat a Big Mac, thereby reducing your sperm count and thus preventing some soul from being conceived? Wow!

[b4uigo]

If Santorum will just drop some of his socially conservative values he will clearly beat Romney and Obama. Keep moouthing off on these issues that most Americans believe is an affront to their personal choices, and he will sink himself and the Rep party. Toe the phiscally conservative line and all willbe well.

[AOCGUY]

That horse has clearly left the barn and lept over the cliff. Of course he also is the only candidate with experience as Commander in Chief. Don't believe me? Just ask Rick, he'll tell you.

[dman6015]

Go, Slick Rick, GO! Please become the GOP nominee. Nobody will admit it, but we all like to watch a car crash or train wreck. Thank you, GOP voters of America for giving us your best!!! GO, SLICK RICK!

[twmat311]

But will these same geniuses rally to blame the president for personally and single handedly (ha ha) raising the price of "their" gasoline, and on that note alone, elect this whack job? Call me paranoid, but this is how countries destroy themselves; voting in reaction to talking points of the moment, rather than using the brain they're given.

[AOCGUY]

So many infidels railing against the good catholic crusader.

[thechooch1]

Well the missing 22% must be like most of Americans, and don't like any of them.