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Gov. Corbett continues to trail Democrat Tom Wolf in Pa.

Democrat Tom Wolf is running ahead of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett among independents and male voters.

By Frances Burns
Tom Corbett on the campaign trail four years ago in Levittown, Pa., before he was elected governor of Pennsylvania. This year, Corbett's Democratic challenger, Tom Wolf, has a double-digit lead in the polls. UPI/John Anderson
Tom Corbett on the campaign trail four years ago in Levittown, Pa., before he was elected governor of Pennsylvania. This year, Corbett's Democratic challenger, Tom Wolf, has a double-digit lead in the polls. UPI/John Anderson | License Photo

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Republican Gov. Tom Corbett has gained a little ground against Democratic challenger Tom Wolf but is still 17 percentage points behind, a poll released Tuesday said.

The Quinnipiac University Poll reported that 55 percent of likely voters said they would vote for Wolf if the election was held now, and only 38 percent picked Corbett. In a poll released Sept. 11, Wolf had a 59-35 edge.

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Wolf is ahead 49-40 among independent voters and 51-42 with men, who tend to tilt Republican. Republicans back Corbett 75-22, up from 68-25 in September, but 87 percent of Democrats support Wolf.

"With a slight shift in the numbers as a handful of Republicans come back, there is a pinprick of light at the end of the long, dark re-election tunnel, but time is not on Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's side," said Tim Malloy, the poll's assistant director. "It's a matter of simple math and the ticking clock and both are working against Gov. Corbett."

Only 38 percent of voters have a favorable view of Corbett, while 52 percent have a favorable view of Wolf, a York businessman who served as secretary of revenue under Gov. Ed Rendell.

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A number of incumbent governors are in tight races this year, including Republicans Rick Scott in Florida and Scott Walker in Wisconsin. But Corbett is the only incumbent with a double-digit deficit.

Quinnipiac surveyed 907 likely voters between Sept. 30 and Oct. 5. The poll has a margin of error of 3.5 points for the entire sample.

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