Politics | Arlen Specter Specter Enjoys 20-Point Lead Over Toomey But Tom Ridge would be a stiffer challenge if he nabbed GOP nom By Nick McMaster Posted May 4, 2009 11:44 AM CDT Copied Sen. Arlen Specter discusses his switch to the Democratic Party at the White House with President Barack Obama, left, in Washington, Wednesday, April 29, 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Arlen Specter beat Pat Toomey 53% to 33% in a Quinnipiac poll of Pennsylvanians’ preferred candidate for US senator. But against Tom Ridge, who may become the Republican candidate, Specter's lead grows more precarious—voters prefer Specter to Ridge by a margin of 46% to 43%, the Quinnipiac poll showed. Democrats welcomed Specter’s recent conversion to the blue side—he trounced Toomey 85% to 4% in that group. Independents may be more apprehensive about Specter 2.0: while they back him over Toomey by a healthy 9 percentage points, independents would break 47% to 37% for Ridge if he runs. Read These Next Analysis sees a historic shift underway in US capitalism. A child was reportedly among those shot dead in a Target parking lot. Rapper stops his show to scold a mom who brought her baby. Backpacker's drunken night ended with a fatal e-scooter accident. Report an error