Hardball Host Chris Matthews is ramping up to take a shot at Senator Arlen Specter of PA, and even though we have not moved beyond the speculation phase lets get back to looking at poll numbers. (Since the Obama election win I have been fidgeting nervously waiting to look at new poll numbers, no matter what the issue). Quinipiac has surveyed PA, and found Specter with a twelve point lead over Matthews. From Quinipiac:

In an early look at the 2010 U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter leads TV commentator Chris Matthews, a possible Democratic challenger, 45 – 33 percent. Sen. Specter leads 72 – 9 percent among Republicans and 45 – 27 percent among independent voters, while Matthews leads 55 – 25 percent among Democrats.

Specter gets a 62 – 25 percent approval rating and by a 56 – 23 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of him.

For Matthews, 60 percent say they don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.

“Who says the Republicans are dead? Sen. Arlen Specter has the highest job approval rating of any major Pennsylvania Pol and would knock off Chris Matthews by 12 points if the Hardball host decides to run against him,” Richards said. “Matthews has been on MSNBC wall to wall during the election season, but is a question mark for 60 percent of the voters. Specter has been relatively invisible the past year and has a strong 56 percent favorable rating.

A Rasmussen survey has that gap as much narrower, but with Specter still holding a lead. Can you just imagine the debate? Specter won’t be able to get in a word! Matthews contract with MSNBC will be up soon, and rumor has MSNBC either not renewing or looking for a big salary reduction. After being passed over for the “Meet the Press” gig Matthews may need a job. But he may be picking the wrong target in Arlen Specter, a pretty tough customer politically. Will Matthews take the plunge? And if he does can he beat Specter?