Election 2010: Pennsylvania Senate Election (Arlen Specter is toast)

Rasmussen Report ^ | August 13, 2009 | Rasmussen Report

[RobinMasters]

Pennsylvania Senate: Toomey 48%, Specter 36%

Uncomfortable town hall meetings are just the tip of the iceberg for Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter. He now trails Republican Pat Toomey by double digits in his bid for reelection next year and is viewed unfavorably by a majority of the state’s voters.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Pennsylvania voters shows 48% would vote for Toomey if the election were held today. Just 36% would vote for Specter while four percent (4%) prefer a third option, and 12% are not sure.

[RobinMasters]

[al_c]

[DennisR]

Could not happen to a nicer guy.

Note to Arlen: buh-bye! Only about 90 Senators left to go, including mine: Murray and Cantwell.

[DM1]

well we can only hope that this keeps up. a perfect storm here would be that Specter wastes all his money on Sestak they damage each other beyond all hope, Specter ekes out a win then Toomey destroys him
i know some wishful thinking here but a man can dream cant he

[LeonardFMason]

“Murray and Cantwell”

If brains were dynamite these two wouldn’t have enough to blow their noses.

[Patrick1]

Sestak will be the nominee.

[mortal19440]

Talk about a major league A-hole. Or as Cheney would say, what a Clymer.

[Bringbackthedraft]

I loved his town hall meeting answer to “term Limits”. He claimed they already had limits, the voters were the limits. Hopefully his term limit has now maxed out.

[Phantom Lord]

Arlen specifically said in his press conference switching parties that he was doing so to avoid losing the GOP nomination.

Nothing would be sweeter than him losing the Dem primary.

[italianquaker]

They can take pro choice graham with him

[crymeariver]

YAY!!!

[rovenstinez]

I hope other Senators are watching this closely, this isn’t just about PENNSYLVANIA, but all across America. People are fed up with a run away, credit card happy Congress

[DM1]

“Sestak will be the nominee.”

is that good or bad? personally i think that Toomey would have a better shot at defeating Specter but i am not in Penn so i dont know what its like on the ground over there. I am always disappointed in Penn though

[Ted Grant]

I will believe it when I see it. Like the fine voters of New Jersey and Connecticut, the Pennsylvania voters can always be counted on to do the wrong thing at gut check time.

[DM1]

“Nothing would be sweeter than him losing the Dem primary.
“

i would rather him lose the general to TOomey i dont know if Sestak would defeat Toomey or vice versa but can you imagine the satisfaction Toomey or indeed all of us on the right would feel if Specter gets defeated by him.

[kitkat]

KIrstin Gillibrand was appointed to replace Hitlery in New York State as Senator.

From Fox News:

***The appointment lasts until 2010, when a special election will be held to fill the final two years of Clinton’s term. ***

Perhaps the mess Obama is making of the health care, etc. and the resurrection of democracy via the town hall meetings will convince some dems to vote for a Republican. Yeah, I know, wishful thinking, but so was the Declaration of Independence until the people got sick of paying taxes to England.

[Antoninus]

Sestak will be the nominee.

That's the purpose of releasing this poll data. They're trying to show Specter the door. I hope his hubris keeps him in the fight to the bitter end, including an indepedent run if he loses the Dem nomination.

[moose2004]

I think Toomey could crush either Specter or Sestak, but I still think Arlen will be their nominee. He has a lot of money and the backing of Reid, Schumer, Durbin, Biden and Obama. Specter is a very crafty old operator who has no intentions of losing to Sestak. Before he switched parties (again) he extracted guarantees from all the aforementioned (fundraising, campaign appearances, endorsements), and he will not sit idly by and allow them to throw him under the bus without a big price for the dems to pay. The dem leadership is stuck with him, and if they try to ditch him for Sestak he will make big trouble for them and their agenda. The dems should never have tried to entice Arlen to switch, I’m sure they realize this now.

[Caribou]

Agree and it will be spread thourgh out the USA come next year.

A year for now, all the dems who are in hiding now will come out in August 2010 and talk like a “conservative” to get reelected.

The way some representatives have been acting needs to stay in the forefront. DO NOT GET SUCKERED next year.

[MNlurker]

They’ll betray him...its what they do!

Couldn’t happen to a sneakier POS.

[Hildy]

I can’t wait until election night..I think I’ll rent a hall and have a party..to see the likes of Specter and Reid fighting for their political life..and then LOSING, will be something I want to remember and savor.

[matthew fuller]

Here is the list of Senators who come up for re-election in 2010:

THESE SENATORS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2010 (if they choose)- Please let them know that you are aware of this when you communicate with them. MANY scumbags are up for re-election in 2010. You can contact any of them, and even give an in-state address if you want to get proactive.

Bayh, Evan - (D - IN) Class III 131 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5623 Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/contact/email/

Bennet, Michael F. - (D - CO) Class III 702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5852 Web Form: bennet.senate.gov/contact/

Bennett, Robert F. - (R - UT) Class III 431 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5444 Web Form: bennett.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Bond, Christopher S. - (R - MO) Class III 274 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5721 Web Form: bond.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.Con...

Boxer, Barbara - (D - CA) Class III 112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3553 Web Form: boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm

Brownback, Sam - (R - KS) Class III 303 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-6521 Web Form: brownback.senate.gov/public/contact/emailsam.cfm

Bunning, Jim - (R - KY) Class III 316 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4343 Web Form: bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Co...

Burr, Richard - (R - NC) Class III 217 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3154 Web Form: burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Conta...

Burris, Roland W. - (D - IL) Class III 387 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2854 Web Form: burris.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm

Coburn, Tom - (R - OK) Class III 172 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5754 Web Form: coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSena...

Crapo, Mike - (R - ID) Class III 239 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-6142 Web Form: crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

DeMint, Jim - (R - SC) Class III 340 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-6121 Web Form: demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Dodd, Christopher J. - (D - CT) Class III 448 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2823 Web Form: dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130

Dorgan, Byron L. - (D - ND) Class III 322 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2551 Web Form: dorgan.senate.gov/contact/contact_form.cfm

Feingold, Russell D. - (D - WI) Class III 506 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5323 Web Form: feingold.senate.gov/contact_opinion.html

Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA) Class III 135 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3744 Web Form: grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Gregg, Judd - (R - NH) Class III 201 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3324 Web Form: gregg.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Cont...

Inouye, Daniel K. - (D - HI) Class III 722 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3934 Web Form: inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html

Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA) Class III 120 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3643 Web Form: isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Leahy, Patrick J. - (D - VT) Class III 433 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4242 Web Form: leahy.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Lincoln, Blanche L. - (D - AR) Class III 355 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4843 Web Form: lincoln.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Martinez, Mel - (R - FL) Class III 356 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3041 Web Form: martinez.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorMartinez

McCain, John - (R - AZ) Class III 241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2235 Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con...

Mikulski, Barbara A. - (D - MD) Class III 503 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4654 Web Form: mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm

Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK) Class III 709 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-6665 Web Form: murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactM...

Murray, Patty - (D - WA) Class III 173 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2621 Web Form: murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Reid, Harry - (D - NV) Class III 522 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3542 Web Form: reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Schumer, Charles E. - (D - NY) Class III 313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-6542 Web Form: schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contact.cfm

Shelby, Richard C. - (R - AL) Class III 304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5744 Web Form: shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSena...

Specter, Arlen - (D - PA) Class III 711 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4254 Web Form: specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Co...

Thune, John - (R - SD) Class III 493 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-2321 Web Form: thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email

Vitter, David - (R - LA) Class III 516 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4623 Web Form: vitter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con...

Voinovich, George V. - (R - OH) Class III 524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-3353 Web Form: voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact....

Wyden, Ron - (D - OR) Class III 223 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-5244 Web Form: wyden.senate.gov/contact/

[moose2004]

I don't care if they betray him or not, my point is that he is no every day politician. He's been in the senate since 1980 and served in the house before that, you don't have that kind of longevity without being a very tough and rough politician. If they betray him I could easily see Specter seeking his own revenge against Sestak’s candidacy (very kind words for Toomey and no endorsement of Sestak) and the dem leadership. He was a pain in the a$$ for many Repubs for a long time, and now it's clear he's a pain in the a$$ for many dems. His switching was hailed by the dems and MSM as being the 60th vote on “Card Check,” “Cap and Trade” and “Obamacare,” none of which have passed the Congress and been signed into law.

[OldDeckHand]

"I can’t wait until election night..I think I’ll rent a hall and have a party..to see the likes of Specter and Reid fighting for their political life..and then LOSING, will be something I want to remember and savor."

I think it's becoming increasingly self-evident that Specter will be a spectator on election night next November. Whatever promises that were made to him (and I'm fairly confident he was promised no primary challenger) have already been broken. He'll lose to Sleestak in the spring, which is unfortunate because it appears that Toomey would crush Specter. It may be a tougher fight against Sleestak.

[OldDeckHand]

"The dems should never have tried to entice Arlen to switch, I’m sure they realize this now."

I'm not sure who enticed whom. Specter saw the writing on the wall - he wasn't going to beat Toomey in the Republican primary, no way. And, like a rat escaping a sinking ship, Specter took what ever route of egress he could find. And that, meant a switch to the DNC.

But, you do have a point about the DNC being a little short sighted. All things considered, they would have been better off with him as a Republican to help the build some phony bi-partisan support for Barry's legislative initiatives.

[moose2004]

Specter did see the writing on the wall, no question, but I believe I read that he called his old friend Biden to talk about and negotiate a switch. Specter is a crafty old fox, he would make sure he had a rock solid agreement (dem nomination and support) before he switched. I also believe that Rahm’s fanatical desire to reach 60 dems in the senate made the much vaunted WH political machine somewhat blind to the possible costs a switch would bring. Maybe Ax et. al. aren’t as smart as they think they are.