It's times like these when I almost understand why the president supported Specter's re-election.
I think people are reading too much into Specters smackdown of Kennedy. I didn't see it, but from what I read on this thread, Specter was probably reacting to Kennedy's cheap trick to delay the Hearing.
Kennedy was stepping into Specter's turf and Specter was having none of it. I think Specter was just protecting his turf and had to let Kennedy have it big time just as a warning to others not to mess with him.
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a president campaign for someone other than the incumbent in his party.
My guess is that the President probably wouldn't have minded having Pat Toomey in there, as being more conservative than Specter, and if Toomey had been the incumbent, GW would have been there for him. Just my thought.