An excellent example is Senator Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who is one of only three Republicans in Congress to vote for Obamabow’s $787 billion stimulus plan. According to a Rasmussen poll released this morning, the 28-year senator now trails his 2004 GOP primary rival Pat Toomey in the polls by 21 points: 51% of Pennsylvania Republicans say they’d vote for Toomey in a 2010 primary, while just 30% would support Specter.
A separate Rasmussen poll demonstrated that 58% of Specter’s Republican constituents cited his support of the stimulus package as reason for their waning support.
The grass roots tea parties seem to have energized the populace. In Specter’s state, the poll found that 79% of Pennsylvania Republicans have a favorable opinion of the tea parties, and 30% knew someone personally who attended. Overall, 82% of Pennsylvania Republicans agree with the parties that the federal government has too much money and too much power.