After Win, Specter Looks To Fall Election (already distancing himself from Bush)

Associated Press | April 29, 2004 | Lara Jakes Jordon

[Russ]

Apr 28, 4:50 PM EDT

After Win, Specter Looks to Fall Election

By LARA JAKES JORDAN Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- After surviving a close scrape in the Republican primary, Sen. Arlen Specter turned his attention to the fall contest and began a campaign Wednesday that could put him at odds with the White House that helped him pull through.

The four-term moderate narrowly defeated conservative Rep. Pat Toomey, 51 percent to 49 percent, in Tuesday's primary after Toomey branded Specter as too liberal. The race was perhaps the most serious challenge yet to any Senate incumbent this season.

Specter will face Democratic Rep. Joe Hoeffel in November.

Less than a day after his primary victory, Specter touted his efforts to trim tax cuts, retain overtime pay for workers, resist school vouchers and continue embryonic stem-cell research - all in opposition to President Bush. The four-term Republican also called the situation in Iraq a "tinderbox" that could be a problem for the president in the fall elections.

"I intend to retain my independent voice, a voice I have always had," Specter said. "The 12 million people of Pennsylvania have not elected me to be a rubber stamp, and I will speak out where I think the necessity calls for it."

Despite his policy differences with the president, Specter said Bush's public support was key to his victory over Toomey. The race was so tight, he said, that the usually stoic Specter could not "stop my nervous system from gyrating a little" while watching vote tallies roll in.

Hoeffel, meanwhile, embarked on a 19-stop tour to raise his low statewide profile. The three-term suburban Philadelphia lawmaker predicted that Specter moved too far to the right in the Republican race to be successful in November.

"This primary has demonstrated that Arlen Specter is not the senator that he used to be," Hoeffel said. "He used to be a moderate maverick, but he is neither of those things. He's voting for a Republican program in Washington that's not working in Pennsylvania. He's their senator now - not ours."

The Democrats blasted Specter as a "political opportunist."

"He has taken every side of every issue for no other reason than to protect his political hide," said Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "He owes his political survival to George Bush, and he's now stuck with him and his right-wing policies."

Registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans in Pennsylvania by nearly 389,000.

Specter has long enjoyed support within liberal-leaning unions and abortion-rights groups, and predicted he would attract Democrats and independents. He said he could help Bush in the fall by pulling moderates to the GOP ticket.

"My agreements with the president are more extensive than my disagreements," Specter said.

Specter spent $10 million to win the primary. As of April 7, he had $4.5 million in his campaign bank account to Hoeffel's $800,000.

That makes Specter tough to beat in November, said Wilkes University political scientist Thomas J. Baldino.

Specter's near-loss "will give Hoeffel some hope," Baldino said. "But as bad a beating as Specter took in term of his reputation, he will continue to raise and spend enough money to demonstrate he can win."

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[Russ]

The beginning of the steady decline of the quality of the senate and senators can be traced back to 1913 when we amended the constitution to have direct election of senators. If the Pa. Legislature elected our senators I doubt very much if Specter would be one.

[NittanyLion]

Well then, we're going to have to agree to disagree. I'll base my thoughts on previous like candidates and Hoeffel's stances; you base yours on generalizations about Toomey's charisma.

[bvw]

Nostradamus you ain't. None can say if Toomey would carry the whole state or not -- can't say it until it becomes actual. But hey, Reagan did, eh? If Reagan and Casey did -- Toomey could.

[NittanyLion]

I'd agree with your statement that central and western PA voters opposed vouchers because they didn't want to send more money to Philly. But because they didn't send more money to black kids in Philly?

In this instance the other poster is correct: you needlessly inserted race into your comment.

[Solson]

A vote for Specter is not a vote for Dems. "might as well" doesn't make it so. In terms of political power, Specter is a Republican. there is a large, and important difference.

Second, it's fine to disagree with the premise but what is there to show the possibility? Third, maintaining control is one thing. Moving to a filibuster proof majority is another. Control gets us some things but it's not enough. finally, I'll be happy to support whomever is leading the charge to get Specter off judiciary. That charge will work tons better if it's done within the party structure than through some other means.

finally, nobody votes on the premise of "if he/she dies in office." Nobody.

[NittanyLion]

I could say the same thing to you Toomey supporters. Your man lost. Get over it.

This from a poster who admitted basing their vote solely on President Bush's endorsement of Specter. You'll forgive us if we question how informed you're likely to be on the underlying issues that impact US Senate races.

[af_vet_1981]

"My agreements with the president are more extensive than my disagreements," Specter said.

I would rather have Sen. Toomey. Not having that, I would rather have Sen. Specter than any Democrat except Zell Miller (who is retiring). Don't send him any money but vote for him.

[Ciexyz]

Well what do you want Specter to say? "I realize that my a** is still in the race due to Bush and Santorum. So watch me kneel and kiss their butts?"

[Solson]

So now Tom Ridge is a conservative? He's a pro-choice moderate, much like Specter. That is what wins in PA for US Senate races.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Then you might want to take it up with the voucher lobbyists and state rep aides(all conservative republicans) who all told me nearly the same story. Race was a factor, whether you want to admit it or not. Disgusting, but a fact. Certainly not all conservatives in PA, or even a majority, but still too much.

And while we are clearing the air, having lived all over the south and in NJ and PA, I encountered more overt racism in the Northeast than anywhere else. Not very often, but stunning when it would come out. Perhaps since I was white they felt I was someone they could confide in.

[The kings dead]

I'd agree with your [Diddle E. Squat's] statement that central and western PA voters opposed vouchers because they didn't want to send more money to Philly. But because they didn't send more money to black kids in Philly?

In this instance the other poster is correct: you needlessly inserted race into your comment.

Indeed he did. And if he isn't a Specter fan he's embraced this sleazy tactic of Specter fan republicanwizard.

[The kings dead]

Certainly not all conservatives in PA, or even a majority

Then why tar Russ or conservatism with it?

[Diddle E. Squat]

See post #280. Nice try, but I never accused any poster of racism, or opposing vouchers.

Reading comprehension is our friend.

[The kings dead]

I never accused any poster of racism, or opposing vouchers.

Nobody said you did.

Reading comprehension is our friend.

Not yours, it seems.

[NittanyLion]

Then you might want to take it up with the voucher lobbyists and state rep aides(all conservative republicans) who all told me nearly the same story. Race was a factor, whether you want to admit it or not.

I'd suggest that voucher lobbyists have a vested interest in casting their ideological opposites in as sinister a light as possible. No doubt some folks may have felt that way, but to suggest that was a deciding factor in the issue is over the top, IMO.

And while we are clearing the air, having lived all over the south and in NJ and PA, I encountered more overt racism in the Northeast than anywhere else.

I've been in a few sections of PA and now VA, and can't really tell any difference. But that's admittedly anecdotal and my time here in VA has been limited.

[stainlessbanner]

Perhaps you should follow PA politics and not those of the South.

Please discontinue such libelous statements. Kindly hit the abuse button on 221 to rescind your post.

[ApesForEvolution]

It's almost like the GOP wants the Sprectum excuse to play off of when they can't get a solid appointment through...

[NittanyLion]

So now Tom Ridge is a conservative? He's a pro-choice moderate, much like Specter. That is what wins in PA for US Senate races.

No - Ridge is a western PA guy that won. There have been many claims that only someone from Philly is likely to win a statewide race; that simply isn't the case.

[Diddle E. Squat]

I'd suggest that voucher lobbyists have a vested interest in casting their ideological opposites in as sinister a light as possible.

That would be a wise way to approach the situation. But I can assure you the lobbyists I worked with were good honest Christians, straight up guys who played by the rules. Unfortunately their analysis fit with what I have also seen and heard.

No doubt some folks may have felt that way, but to suggest that was a deciding factor in the issue is over the top, IMO.

I was noting that it was a factor, an aspect that influenced the issue.

[Luke21]

I absolutely refuse to vote for my gay, pseudo Democrat congressman Jim Kolbe here in AZ. either. Anybody that voted for Specter should be having their meds increased.

In this case, were I from Pa. I would vote for the Democrat or third party. It's better to have a true believing commie to aim your spears at than a Benedict Arnold like this guy.