Statewide survey shows five-point bump in Wolf’s approval rating

 

(Harrisburg) — A new poll shows Pennsylvania’s incumbent Democrats are in a strong position ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

43 percent of voters in the Franklin and Marshall College survey believe Governor Tom Wolf is doing an “excellent” or “good” job in office, compared with 38 percent in a similar poll in September.

The boost came primarily from Democrats and Independents.

F&M’s Berwood Yost said it could be due to a lot of things.

For one, it might be disapproval of President Donald Trump–who has a steady 30 percent approval rating in the poll.

Or it could be satisfaction with Wolf’s response to Pennsylvania’s redistricting saga.

60 percent of registered voters who responded believe the commonwealth’s previous congressional map was unfair.

The pollsters note, it puts Wolf’s rating about where former Governor Ed Rendell’s was at this stage in his tenure and is higher than Wolf’s immediate predecessor, Republican Tom Corbett.

At this point, Wolf’s numbers are ahead of all three of his GOP challengers.

Democratic US Senator Bob Casey is up for reelection this year too. His poll numbers have stayed steady since September, at 37 percent.

Yost said based on the data, Democrats are likely to have a better shot overall of picking up wins in the midterm elections.

“It’s early, obviously,” he noted. “Every race, the quality of candidates matter. But right now the environment appears to favor the Democrats…at this point you probably feel good if you’re a Democrat.

In addition, more registered voters said they think the state’s “headed in the right direction,” than said it’s “on the wrong track” for the first time since 2009.