Too Soon? Pennsylvanians Being Polled On 2016 Senate Race

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Admittedly, it is early to be thinking about the 2016 U.S. Senate race, but pollsters are already asking Pennsylvania voters whether they’re willing to re-elect Pat Toomey.

Public Policy Polling surveyed more than a thousand voters about potential Senate challengers to Toomey. The only democrat who could beat him — if the election were held now — is former Governor Ed Rendell, who says he has no interest in running:

“I’m not a legislator, never will be.”

Still, state democratic chairman Jim Burns sees hopeful signs in the poll because it shows several democrats trailing by four-percent — the kind of margin that can be closed in a vigorous campaign.

“The conversation in the Democratic Party at this point is finding our best candidate in a primary and rallying around that candidate,” Burns says.

Burns says it’s too early to say who that might be. Consultant Larry Ceisler says it may not matter:

“Pat Toomey is at the mercy of who’s at the top of the ticket.”

That’s also too early to tell. Toomey’s campaign declined requests for comment.