A Quinnipiac poll released this morning finds Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter (D) leading Republican Pat Toomey by 9 points and potential intra-party challenger Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) by 29 points (May 20-26, 1191 RV, +/- 2.8%).

Sestak said yesterday that he intends to challenge Specter, who switched to the Democratic Party one month ago today. Forty-six percent hold a favorable opinion of Specter, while 61% don't know enough about Toomey to have any opinion of him.

"Sen. Arlen Specter's numbers have slipped since the controversy that followed his switch to the Democratic Party, but he's still better off than he would have been if he stayed a Republican and faced a tough primary challenge from former Rep. Pat Toomey,” said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

For the GOP nomination, Toomey leads Rep. Jim Gerlach and Peg Luksik by a wide margin.

General Election
Specter 46 (-7 vs. last poll, May 4)
Toomey 37 (+4)
Und 14 (+4)

Sestak 37
Toomey 35
Und 23

Dem Primary
Specter 50
Sestak 21
Und 27

GOP Primary
Toomey 38
Gerlach 10
Luksik 3
Und 47