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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PUBLIC OPINION POLL (PRESENTED BY SUSQUEHANNA BANK) REVEALS OBAMA HAS EIGHT POINT LEAD IN PENNSYLVANIA FOLLOWING THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Voter Interest in 2012 Political Campaigns Increased by 11 Points Since Last Month
PHILADELPHIA (October 11, 2012) In a new Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania poll presented by Susquehanna Bank and published this morning, President Barack Obama leads Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney by 8 points among likely voters in Pennsylvania, with 50% of voters in favor of the President and 42% in favor of Romney. The first presidential debate appears to have not significantly impacted poll respondents in changing their candidate preference, with data indicating a 3-point decrease in Obamas lead in the Garden State since the last Inquirer public opinion poll was published in September following the national conventions. The current poll was conducted October 4 through October 8 among 600 voters in Pennsylvania who are likely to cast a ballot in the November 6 presidential election, with a margin of error +/- 4%. The poll results also indicated that voter interest in the Presidential campaigns increased by 11 points, with 69% reporting they are extremely or very interested in the upcoming election. Republicans (74% interested) expressed more interest in the presidential campaign than either Independents (68% interested) or Democrats (65% interested). The poll revealed that opinions of Romney have narrowly changed in the past month, with a 47% favorable/49% unfavorable opinion of the Presidential nominee, compared to poll results in September. Obama is viewed favorably by 55% of voters, while 42% reported an unfavorable opinion of the President. Favorable opinions of the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Paul Ryan, have increased since the September poll by 4 points, with a 42% favorable/40% unfavorable opinion. Vice President Bidens favorability ratings have remained stable over the past month, with a 52% favorable/40% unfavorable response in the current poll. Likely voters were polled on their opinions regarding the first Presidential debate, with 79% reporting they watched some of the debate, including 43% who reported they watched all 90 minutes. Following the first debate, 65% of those polled who watched the event, or viewed news coverage of it, reported Romney as the winner. The poll indicated only 15% believed that Obama won the debate. The majority of Democrats polled believe that Romney won the debate, with 52% reporting Romney as the winner, and 22% reporting that Obama was the winner. For comprehensive poll results, please reference the following philly.com URL: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/papoll/
About Interstate General Media Interstate General Media LLC is the parent company of Philadelphia Media Network (PMN), publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia SportsWeek and Philly.com. With its multiple brand platforms and integrated print and digital products, PMN is the regions largest media network and the industrys technological leader and innovator. Philadelphia Media Network publications reach an average weekly audience of 2.2 million adults more than the combination of the three evening television news shows or the combination of those radio stations ranked in the top ten during drive-time programming. About Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc., is a financial services holding company with assets of approximately $18 billion. Through its Susquehanna Bank subsidiary, the company provides banking and financial services at 260 branch locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia. Through Susquehanna Wealth Management, the company offers investment, fiduciary, brokerage, insurance, retirement planning, and private banking services, with approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management and administration. Susquehanna also operates an insurance brokerage and employee benefits company, a commercial finance company and a vehicle leasing company. For more information, please visit www.susquehanna.net.

Poll Methodology Philadelphia Inquirer / Susquehanna Bank Pennsylvania public opinion poll results are based on live telephone interviews conducted October 4 through October 8 with 600 likely Presidential year voters across Pennsylvania. The poll was conducted by a bipartisan team of national political pollsters. Overall results have been weighted to adjust for variation in the sample. In theory, in 19 cases out of 20, results based on such samples of all likely voters will differ by no more than 4.0 percentage points in either direction from what would have been obtained by seeking to interview all registered voters who are likely to vote in the November 2012 election. Results based on smaller subgroups have a larger sampling error.

Press Contacts: For Interstate General Media: Mark Block, (o) 215/854-5640, (c) 202/494-0450, mblock@philly.com Ruth Auslander, (o) 215/854-4760, (c) 267/625-4425, rauslander@phillynews.com Jonathan Tevis (o) 215/854-5790, (c) 609/313-5603, jtevis@phillynews.com For Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc: Stephen Trapnell, (o)717/625-6548 x56548, (c)717/271-8612, stephen.trapnell@susquehanna.net