The latest polling in Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum’s home state, shows that Republican voters are now entering the “acceptance” stage, and are getting ready to bite the bullet and vote for Mitt Romney: Romney Takes the Lead in Pennsylvania.

Mitt Romney’s taken the lead in PPP’s newest poll of Rick Santorum’s home state of Pennsylvania. Romney has 42% to 37% for Santorum with Ron Paul at 9% and Newt Gingrich at 6%. The numbers represent a dramatic turnaround from when PPP polled the state a month ago. Romney’s gained 17 points, going from 25% to 42%. Meanwhile Santorum’s dropped 6 points from 43% to 37%, for an overall swing of 23 points in the last four weeks.

Pennsylvania Republicans are expressing major doubts about Santorum’s viability both in the primary and the general election. Only 36% of GOP voters think Santorum has a realistic chance at the nomination to 54% who believe he does not. And when it comes to matching up against Barack Obama in the fall only 24% of Republicans think Santorum would provide their best chance for a victory while 49% think that designation belongs to Romney.

Remember that in 2006 during his Pennsylvania campaign for Senator, Rick Santorum lost to Democrat Bob Casey by the largest margin for an incumbent since 1980 — and the voters of Pennsylvania are getting ready to reject him again.