State Attorney General Tom Corbett has a commanding lead over Congressman Jim Gerlach in the first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 survey of Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial primary.

Among likely GOP Primary voters, Corbett leads Gerlach 54% to 10%, with six percent (6%) preferring some other candidate. But 30% are undecided with seven months to go until the May 18 primary.

Corbett, elected to a second four-year term as attorney general in November, announced his candidacy for governor last month.

Gerlach, a fourth-term congressman from a district west of Philadelphia, has previously served in both the state Senate and House. He announced for the governor’s race in July.

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Twenty-eight percent (28%) of primary voters have a very favorable view of Corbett, while just one percent (1%) view him very unfavorably. Twenty-one percent (21%) don’t enough about Corbett to venture even a soft opinion of him.

Gerlach is viewed very favorably by eight percent (8%) and very unfavorably by seven percent (7%). But he has to work a bit harder on his name recognition statewide since 37% of primary voters are not sure what they think of him.

At this point in a campaign, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with a strong opinion more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers.

Current Democratic Governor Edward Rendell is term-limited and therefore cannot seek reelection. Rasmussen Reports will release its first numbers on the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary at 8 am EDT tomorrow.

Just 15% of GOP Primary voters approve of Rendell’s job performance, with two percent (2%) who strongly approve. Eighty-three percent (83%) disapprove of the job he is doing, with 61% who strongly disapprove.

Republican-turned-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter trails potential GOP challenger Pat Toomey by five points in an early look at Pennsylvania's 2010 Senate race. But another Democrat, Joe Sestak, runs dead-even with the likely Republican candidate.

Sixteen percent (16%) of Republican Primary voters approve of the job President Obama is doing, including eight percent (8%) who strongly approve. But 82% disapprove, including 67% who strongly disapprove.

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