Casey, Looking Good

Yeah, We Know, It’s Early. Still, for a guy whose party took a beating just three months ago and is at the nadir of its popularity, Senator Robert Casey looks pretty solid for reelection, according to a new poll from the Public Policy Polling. He even has a considerable amount of Republican support.

41% of voters in the state approve of the job Casey is doing to 29% who disapprove. He’s on positive ground with independents but the most striking thing within his numbers is that 23% of Republicans approve of him to only 47% who disapprove. To put those figures in some context Arlen Specter’s breakdown with GOP voters on our last poll before the election last fall was 9/86 and Ed Rendell’s was 11/80. Republicans just don’t have as big a problem with Casey as they do with most Democratic politicians.

The Republican tested in the poll who comes closest to Casey is Rick Santorum, who nevertheless trails 48-41. Doing next best is former Governor Mark Schweiker who trails 47-34, followed by Congressman Jim Gerlach who’s down 49-33, Congressman Charlie Dent whose deficit is 51-31, and actual announced candidate Marc Scaringi who trails 50-27.

Not for nothing, the Scoop is considerably more excited to see the results of another question PPP asked of Pennsylvanians in that same poll: What do they think of Michael Vick and Ben Roethlisberger? According to PPP’s Twitter page, that will be out this afternoon. We’ll keep you posted. [PPP]