This has been noted as being almost like a game of rock-paper-scissors:
Some other numbers for Specter: 46/52 favorable/unfavorable (Rasmussen); 31/59 deserves-reelection (Susquehanna). The Susquehanna poll also has him leading Sestak in the primary 44/16 and tied with Toomey 42/41, but that may be the usual registered/likely voter difference. All in all, it’s starting to look like maybe Specter should have taken the hint and announced that he wasn’t going to run for re-election after he switched parties…
Moe Lane
Crossposted to Moe Lane.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
This Could Not Happen...
tsquare (Diary) Thursday, October 15th at 10:56AM EST (link)To a nicer guy.
Don’t go away mad… just go away…
Can't Wait! Bring on the Campaign!
mas1916 Thursday, October 15th at 11:07AM EST (link)Are any of the other lefties in Congress capable of understanding what is happening here?
This is just too sweet! Specter is finally going to get the sound electoral defeat he has earned – either from Toomey or from Sestak. Either way, it will be wonderful to watch!
The curious question remains though, as to whether or not Democrats make any connection between health care takeover as is currently proposed, and their own electoral fate. As they did in 1980, Democrats are driving voters into the conservative camp.
I'm rooting for Sestak in that primary
nickinvirginia Thursday, October 15th at 11:38AM EST (link)PA should have a real choice between a Democrat and a Republican, and not between a Republican and a guy they can’t trust to keep his party affiliation.
Specter’s move was purely political. I mean he even did something most politicians don’t, and that is that he was honest about the political motivations of his switch. If he truly beleived in what he was – a moderate Republican – then he should have fought for that brand. Instead he took what he thought was the easy way out and switched to being a Democrat, but he isn’t even a moderate democrat anymore. He has become a more Liberal Democrat, especially with this Sestak challenge. The fact that he can not only change parties, but completely change from moderate right-of-center to left-of-center just shows that he is representing the State of Arlen.
Sestak is going to beat this guy, and in a Democratic primary he has a lot of ammo. He has ads of Specter with Bush, and he has Specter on Hardball after he switched parties saying he voted for McCain/Palin, because he thought they were the better choice. You can just see Sestak’s attack ads now, it can just be 30 seconds of Specter repeating that he thought “McCain/Palin was a better ticket” over video footage of Bush saying how good of a Republican he is. I mean, Specter has a lot of money, but I don’t think a billion dollars good hide that in a Democratic primary.
So, I hope Sestak wins, because Specter certainly doesn’t deserve to represent the Democrats, and Pennsylvania should have a real choice.
As a Pennsylvania Republican
ehosterman (Diary) Thursday, October 15th at 12:04PM EST (link)I can only st thank god he’s gone (from the Republican party). I voted against this swine in every primary and then had to hold my nose to prevent someone even worse from grtting in. I don’t have to do that anymore.
I don’t know if it’s a given that Sestak can beat him in the Dem. primary though. Fast Eddie Rendell and his machine is backing Arlen in the primary. I just hope that he and Sestak get particularly nasty. Like they say, pass the popcorn.
Rass Poll
nickinvirginia Thursday, October 15th at 12:07PM EST (link)Has Sestak down 4 when he was down 13 a month ago: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/poll-specter-barely-leads-sestak-in-dem-primary.php?ref=fpa
I think he can pull it off. Plus, his district is pretty Red, and will likely flip to a Republican.
yeaaa
nickinvirginia Thursday, October 15th at 12:08PM EST (link)That seems to be the poll in this post lol…i guess my google search was futile.
Polls are interesting
ehosterman (Diary) Thursday, October 15th at 12:12PM EST (link)but let’s see what fast Eddie’s machine does on primary day. Like I said pass the popcorn.
yea
nickinvirginia Thursday, October 15th at 12:33PM EST (link)I think you could see the strength of Rendell’s machine best during last year’s primary between Obama and Clinton. Obama was closing that gap down to a few points, but didn’t have the backing of the governor or the Mayor of Philly. He lost by 10. It was also when the Rev. Wright thing was blowing up, and when Clinton finally found her “voice,” but I think if the support was reversed, it would have been very close.
Don’t forget that the WH is also backing Specter. They have to, they needed that 60th vote, but I’m sure they wouldn’t be too sad if he lost. Well, maybe Biden, since he talked him into switching parties.