Posted on 11/09/2004 8:22:21 PM PST by GeneralHavoc
Exit polls reveal that President Bush may have miscalculated earlier this year by endorsing pro-abortion Senator Arlen Specter in his primary battle against conservative challenger Pat Toomey.
Immediately following his narrow primary win, Specter was quick to declare his independence from the president and reassert his pro-abortion credentials. After his November 2 win, Specter added insult to injury, asserting that if he were to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pro-life judges need not apply.
Originally believing that a strong GOP Senate candidate in Pennsylvania could put the state's 21 electoral votes in the Bush column, the president campaigned with Specter and helped him squeak out a win against Toomey. Conventional wisdom had suggested that Toomey would be a weaker candidate in the general election.
But saving Specter didn't impress Pennsylvania Republicans.
In fact, Bush's endorsement of Specter angered pro-life Republicans across the state, and now exit polls suggest that many of them did not show up to vote on election day.
While national polls indicate that moral values was the number one priority for 22 percent of all voters, only 18 percent of Pennsylvania voters listed moral values as their top priority.
Since 80 percent of these "moral values" voters nationwide supported the President, their lower turnout in Pennsylvania probably gave Kerry his narrow margin of victory in the Keystone State.
Catholics voted for Bush nationwide, 52 to 47 percent. The margin was wider in Ohio 55 to 44 percent, and wider still in Florida 57 to 42 percent. In Pennsylvania, however, Catholics were almost evenly split, going for Bush 51 to 49 percent.
If Bush allows Sen. Specter to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, his support among "values voters" nationwide could suffer a similar decline.
Bush cost himself Pennsylvania when he he endorsed Sphincter over Toomey.
Spector like VD/AIDS is the "gift" that keeps on giving!
Is it possible to recall Spectre?
I live in PA and NOTHING alienated grassroots conservatives more than Bush and Santorum endorsing Specter.
They would have had a massive Toomey army to work with all over the state, but they chose party over principle.
This crap and a repost.
Only if Pennsylvania voters are stupid.
Another case of conservatives cutting off their own nose just to spite their face.
"Oooooooohhhhh, I'm so commited to the pro-life cause that I'm gonna hold my breath as long as I can, fold my arms over my chest just cuz Pres Bush supported Arlen Specter in the primary. Instead I'll sit it out and do my utmost to let a pro-choice Democrat win the White House".
(sarcasm off)
Of course, Spectre cost Bush Pennsylvania. When Bush sacrificed a good man to support Spectre, then the writing was on the wall for everyone to see. Spectre cost Bush Pennsylvania, and Karl Rove cost Bush Pennsylvania by telling him to back Spectre over Toomey.
I think this was posted earlier on FR... :P
Here's a thought.
The senator campaigned pretty consistently with Bush in PA.
Is it possible that Rove et company have made a calculus that Specter will be a lightning rod for prestidigitation for media consumption so as not to "alarm" the leftists who "fear" judge appointments from conservatives?
How 'bout it?
You are pro-abortion, correct? Full disclosure and all that...
Probably. According to an article in NR, Specter's handlers ran ads in one part of the state advising voters to vote for Kerry/Specter. Specter no doubt denies responsibility, but it's exactly the kind of thing he has often done.
Toomey was a very strong candidate. He would have campaigned for Bush. Specter refused to.
Not only that, but Rick Santorum has seriously damaged his reputation after presumably letting Karl Rove twist his arm and agreeing to endorse a man who supports every principle that Santorum has stood firm against. I'm glad to see that he is now backing away from this mess, because the people who have supported and admired Rick find his endorsement of Specter extremely difficult to understand. In fact, incomprehensible.
The timing of this is highly suspicious
Now why would you introduce a rational statement in a thread designed to bash Specter?
There was no way Bush was going to endorse the challenger. The best you could've hoped for was a NON-endorsement of anybody.
RTFC.
I have to agree. Also the Republican Party seemed non-existent during the governor's race in 2002. The average person knew Rendell was running but didn't know who else.
Ever since Ridge was taken for Homeland Security it's as though Republicans have written off PA. This is a mostly conservative state and winnable. The Specter fiasco hurt things worse. Let's hope they stop bungling this up before the slate of elections.
Yes, I am pro-choice, not pro-abortion.
I've never met anyone who was FOR abortion.
Do you feel OK calling yourself pro-life knowing that there are many in your ranks who advocate murders of doctors and bombings of family planning centers?
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