Specter Wins 51-49 Republican Senatorial Primary: live thread

4/27/2004 | self

[rudy45]

My apologies if a thread already exists. I did a search on "Toomey" and found nothing.

I arrived at my polling area (suburban Philadelphia) at 6:45 am to hand out palm cards. The weather is terrific this morning, but turnout (I thought) was light (I had to leave at 9:15, but will be back).

Actually, I have a good feeling about Pat.

[joanie-f]

Am home on a half-hour lunch break (and to walk the dog :) -- will be at the polls all day today.

Toomey told me at a rally two weeks ago here in Lancaster County that he was hoping to draw a large turnout here and pull off a landslide county-wide win in order to counteract the heavy Specter support in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. I have been at the polls since 7:00 this morning, and will be returning until 8:00 tonight. When I left our little polling place five minutes ago, 270 people had voted. Considering the fact that, in a primary election, the normal total voter turnout in our district is roughly 300, and the voting day is less than half over, I would categorize the turnout as moderately heavy.

(Although it may not be of great significance, since ours is a largely conservative area, the huge majority of people with whom I have spoken as they entered and exited this morning and early afternoon were Toomey voters).

Granted, our district is small, but, if it is representative of Lancaster County in general, Toomey may well be getting the heavy turnout he has been counting on here in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It’s too early to tell.

Fingers crossed … prayers continuing …

~ joanie

[dwilli]

Ed Rendel is not a dyed-in-the-wool liberal?

[ArGee]

Can Toomey win the general election.

Yes he can.

And if he couldn't, having a junior Dim from PA would be preferable to a Senior RINO like Spectre. Spectre would likely be the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which would finally turn our Republic into the Oligarchy it is becoming.

Shalom.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!! That's thinking on your feet!

[maryz]

I asked because I was wondering if any other race might affect turnout.

Do you mind if I ask why you don't like Santorum?

[jocon307]

"GWB did not carry PA the last time around..."

Yes, and Tom Ridge was the governor then too, no?

[old and tired]

I'm in the Philly burbs and just got back from the 1st lunch rush shift. I'm going back this afternoon. Voting traffic has been light but steady. My voting place is heavily Jewish, with slightly more Republicans than Democrats.

First, the good news: There are no Specter signs or Specter person working the polls. Many of the Republicans who came in were churchgoing Catholics, whom I knew, if not by name, by face. They took the "Montgomery County Republicans for Life" cards into the booths with them. I think most of them will vote pro-life as many couldn't resist mentioning they hoped to dump Arlen.

I had on Toomey and Taubenberger stickers. I had a couple of men whom I did not know, ask me where Toomey and Taubenberger stood on the 2nd ammendment. Then they'd turn to the Melissa Brown supporter and ask him. Brown favors gun control. Both men turned around and took my card. I assume that means they will vote Toomey and Taubenberger and the committee people I had on my card. Since I know all but one of the pro-lifers listed, I was able to say all but one (whose stance I did not know) was in favor of gun rights too.

The bad news is: My neighborhood is turning Democrat, with a fairly large influx of committed Jewish voters. These people will vote Hoeffel in the fall.

[PermaRag]

Light turnout here in the suburbs east pf Pittsburgh, but more than a normal primary election, according to a poll worker.

A couple of college-age girls were handing out Toomey literature; there were no signs for Specter and nobody there to shill for him either.

The neighborhoods around the precinct are pretty evenly split among Republicans & Rats; there are no Rat signs (they have no high-profile primaries on their side), no Specter signs that I've noticed, but there are several Toomey signs along the roads and in front of houses.

[Vision]

I'm praying with you

[fatima]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/profiles?location=86
Go here,has all the PA info.

[Right Wing Puppy]

I have been telling you guys in other related posts that it is vital that Specter win with regard to Pres. Bush in Nov. Toomey is a far more attractive candidate to me than the snake in the grass Arlen. However, a Toomey win will make PA a write-off in Nov. Specter on the ballot gives W a chance in PA. If W wins PA he wins the election! We need to keep Kerry out of the oval office more than kicking out Scottish Law Arlen from the Senate.

We Freepers need a lesson in strategic warfare!

[ArGee]

I hope the "gentleman" you were talking to (who said "we" want to keep "Spectre" if "we" can) was NOT a poll official!

No, he was a Spectre op. Made me feel bad that I didn't take the day off to work the same polling place for Pat.

Shalom.

[bvw]

Ditto on Castor.

[dwilli]

I don't follow Penn. politics that closely. Is Toomey
pro-life and is that the issue driving his support?

[AmishDude]

Ed Rendell ran against a charisma-free candidate, campaigned as a populist (his main campaign promise was to cut property taxes, it was a big issue) and had name recognition (the sitting governor chose not to run).

When in doubt, the "name" wins PA statewide. If Toomey wins, he becomes the "name".

Oh, those property taxes did not change, but Pennsylvanians got a big income tax increase.

[ArGee]

Do you mind if I ask why you don't like Santorum?

Not at all. Please ask.

;)

Actually, I like Rick's positions and votes. But his endorsements leave me cold, since he recorded a very powerful radio ad for Arlen Spectre (RINO-PA). I couldn't take any primary endorsement from him seriously after that.

I understand party politics, but that doesn't mean I have to play them.

The other reason I voted against the incumbent was his very negative radio advertising.

Shalom.

[PianoMan]

There's lots of factors to consider here. But Specter is the worst of the worst. If you don't draw the line at him, where do you draw it?

[Francisco]

What kind of promises did Specter make to the unions to get their support?

What kind of promises did Specter make to the NRA to get their support? The NRA will never get another nickel from me. Future donations will go to GOA.

[myrabach]

You are correct... Tom Ridge was governor. PA was a BIG disappointment... lets hope it isn't this time around.

[bvw]

Light turnout in my very old-line GOP district. SE PA, Bucks.

The Dem's also have a race for AG in PA. Eisenhower versus Baschle. Seems to a lot of acrimony in that race too.

The GOP AG race is going to be interesting too. Met Castor's cousin at my polls. Speaks well of Castor.