President 2012 Pennsylvania GOP Poll Watch: Romney 44% Vs. Obama 42%

According to the latest Quinnipiac University Poll.

Pennsylvania voters say 52 – 42 percent that Obama does not deserve to be reelected. Matching the president against possible Republican challengers shows:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 44 percent to Obama’s 42 percent;

    Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 43 percent to Obama’s 45 percent;

    Obama leads Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann 47 – 39 percent;

    Obama tops Texas Gov. Rick Perry 45 – 39 percent.

Remember President Obama beat John McCain by 10 points in 2008. In the early Presidential analysis, Pennsylvania was NOT considered an essential key battleground state for the GOP to win in the Electoral College.

But, the latest poll may be foreshadowing a disastrous trend for the President’s re-election.

Remember the trend in Pennsylvania first appeared on July 8th in the PPP Poll.

President Obama won Pennsylvania by 10 points in 2008. If he is in trouble there and this early, his decline could cascade to other key battleground states.

Most pundits have not considered Pennsylvania to be in play for 2012 and 20 Electoral College votes are a lot for Obama to make up in Virginia and North Carolina which looks like he must both hold.

Here is the GOP Pennsylvania race breakdown:

Romney – 21%
Santorum – 14%
Palin – 12%
Bachmann – 11%
Perry – 8%
Paul – 5%