Posted on 05/10/2010 1:54:02 PM PDT by jazusamo
One week before the May 18 primary in Pennsylvania, two new polls show Rep. Joe Sestak opening a lead on Sen. Arlen Specter in their fight for the Democratic Senate nomination.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone poll of likely Democratic primary voters has Mr. Sestak up 47 percent to 42 percent, with 8 percent undecided. Mr. Sestak is holding a similar margin in a Muhlenberg College/Morning Call tracking poll.
Is Mr. Specter, 80, about to join Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Utah Sen. Bob Bennett as the latest victim of 2010's backlash against "moderate" candidates?
In February, the five-term senator held a commanding 51 percent to 36 percent lead over Mr. Sestak and seemed to hold all the keys to winning his first Democratic Party nomination since switching from the Republican Party in 2009. He'd been endorsed by President Obama and Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Ed Rendell, and his campaign was getting cash and support from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
But Mr. Sestak, a two-term member of the U.S. Congress and a former admiral running as "the real Democrat," has steadily closed the gap on Mr. Specter, and last week edged into the lead for the first time.
The 58-year-old former vice admiral, who plowed into the race without the support of the state or national Democratic Party establishment, seems to be running a more politically astute campaign.
Taking a page out of Republican Marco Rubio's playbook in Florida, Mr. Sestak's ads prominently feature a 2004 campaign trail photo of Mr. Specter and former President George W. Bush, arm-in-arm. Mr. Sestak used the endorsement of a veterans group last week to fire back at Mr. Specter, who had questioned the former career military man's service in his ads
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
That’s well put and right on the mark.
He would not be allowed to run in the general election if he loses the Democratic primary. The law in PA says that the party you were registered in at time of primary is the party you have to be associated with if you run in general election. That law is designed exactly to prevent a loser in the primary from running as a “no party affiliation” candidate.
Thanks for posting that, was completely unaware of it.
I’ll be thrilled to see Benedict Arlen go. But I have to admit, I’m concerned that as more senators become lame ducks they’ll start voting for really bad legislation as a parting shot at the public that rejected them.
Think cap and tax, shamnesty, card check.
I believe you make a valid point and people like Specter with very questionable integrity are apt to do just that but we have to get rid of these turkeys if the opportunity presents itself. It’s kind of a damned if you do and damned if you don’t thing.
I really loathe that guy.....along with Snowe, Collins, takeyourpick...etc..etc..
Watch Specter try to jump back to being a Republican.
Democrats don't believe in laws and don't obey laws that impact them in a negative way.
“Stinking Crist might win because Marcos Rubio is for open-borders.”
FALSE! Rubio opposes amnesty and supports securing the border and dealing with illegal immigration.
Sestak is an Obama Democrat. He’d frankly vote left of Specter... so it would be a big loss if Sestak won this in November ... focus on getting Toomey to win.
Sestak will be much harder to beat in Novemebre than Snarlin Arlen.....GO ARLEN!!
Rubio is NOT for OPEN BORDERS!
Didn’t this guy shoot someone in LA???
Absotutely. Party at my place if we unload the bastage.
I suspect that's the case, although I haven't seen any numbers recently on the size of their respective war chests. That's a big factor.
He’ll run as an I, and try to split the vote, same as what happened with Scozzaflava.
FOLKS, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR ...
Here we hae some great conservatives running, and now winning primaries - Toomey and Rubio.
But ... it may be a pyrric victory if they dont win in November.
Toomey and Rubio need strong support to win in November.
“Sestak will be much harder to beat in Novemebre than Snarlin Arlen.....GO ARLEN!!”
Good correction ...
and Sestak is a leftie Obama Democrat.
Yup. Interesting to see which way the PA folks go!
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