Specter-Sestak Showdown Tops Primary Races

Pennsylvania voters will decide today whether to replace Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in the U.S. Senate and settle contested Democratic and Republican nominations for governor.

Nomination fights in dozens of state legislative and congressional districts also are on the ballot.

A poll released yesterday indicates that the Democratic primary showdown between Sen. Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak is too close to call.

The Quinnipiac University poll found that 16 percent of Democrats considered likely to vote were undecided in the Senate race. Both men put in a final day of campaigning in far-flung locations across the state before returning to their home base in the Philadelphia area.

The winner of the primary will likely square off in November against former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey, who faces token opposition this year from Johnstown activist Peg Luksik.

The poll surveyed 951 Democrats by telephone between Wednesday and Sunday. The sampling error margin is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.