Granted, it's a bit silly to be talking about polling on Senate match ups that are two years away.  Nevertheless, this new survey from Quinnipiac University on the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race won't send much of a thrill up Chris Matthews' leg. In a hypothetical general election match up, the Hardball host loses to incumbent Republican Arlen Specter by 12 points, 45-33, with 19% undecided.  Specter wins Republicans 72-9 and Indpendents 45-27. Matthews wins Democrats 55-25.

Sixty percent of those surveyed did not know enough about Matthews to form an opinion of him, while 21% said they view him favorably and 17% view him unfavorably. 56% have a favorable view of Senator Specter, while 23% view him unfavorably and 19% have no opinion.

More importantly for Specter, 62% approve of the way he is handling his job as United States Senator, the highest rating ever recorded for him by Quinnipiac.