A new Quinnipiac poll released this morning finds Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, now a Democrat, crushing former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) in the Senate race general election (April 29–May 3, 1120 RV, MoE +/- 2.9%). However, former Gov. Tom Ridge (R), trails Specter by just 3 points, as he wins over the independent voters that Specter would take over the conservative Toomey.

Specter had faced abysmal GOP primary numbers against Toomey prior to switching parties last week. As he admitted, his move drastically improves his chances of winning re-election.

"A former Republican Senator running as a Democrat against a popular former Republican governor seeking to make a political comeback would be a battle royal in Pennsylvania," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Gov. Tom Ridge is probably the only political figure in Pennsylvania who could give Sen. Arlen Specter a run for his money."

Specter 53
Toomey 33
Und 10

Specter 46
Ridge 43
Und 8