By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative/PAC Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
A new poll shows the Grand Old Party outperforming expectations in Pennsylvania—one of the battleground states in the 2020 election. Of course, a cautionary note. Polls are “snapshots in time,” but these results are nonetheless very encouraging.
In the six most competitive Congressional districts, Republicans lead on the generic ballot by a whopping 10 points—50 percent to 40 percent.
“Republican gains on the generic ballot in competitive seats should worry Democrats,” said Patrick Murray, the director of the Independent Monmouth University Polling Institute. “Only district-level polling can tell if this is because GOP incumbents are bulking up their margins or if GOP challengers are eating into support for Democratic incumbents,” Murray added.
Much of the enthusiasm for Republican candidates can be attributed to the party’s pro-life stand. Pro-life voters in Pennsylvania are especially engaged this year, knowing that the lives of preborn children are on the line in the races for not only Congress, but the White House as well.
As the standard-bearer for the party, President Donald Trump has amassed what is considered to be the most pro-life Presidential record in U.S. history. Chief among his accomplishments were nominating Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court—two strict Constructionists who promised to interpret the Constitution as written rather than write pro-abortion law themselves.
The winner of the 2020 Presidential sweepstakes is likely to appoint a number of new Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, given possible retirements from the High Court bench. Voters in 2016 who cast their ballots for Trump often cited the Supreme Court as the reason why. There is no reason to believe the enthusiasm for Trump appointments will be any less this election year.
The Monmouth Poll also showed the Presidential race in Pennsylvania narrowing, with as small as a one-point difference between the two major party candidates among likely voters—well within the poll’s margin of error.
That means that, once again, the Keystone State could be the key to the White House. Pennsylvania voters are well aware of the crucial nature of this election, and are predicted to vote in high numbers.