The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has given its Pennsylvania candidate, Joe Hoeffel, a $500,000 contribution this month, a spokesman for the group confirmed yesterday.

Hoeffel, a U.S. representative from Montgomery County, is running against Republican incumbent Arlen Specter.

The contribution indicates the group is still hoping that Hoeffel can win the race.

Polls released this week by Quinnipiac University and Strategic Vision LLC show Specter leading by 19 percentage points.