Posted on 01/07/2009 7:44:54 PM PST by Salena Zito
MSNBC “Hardball” host Chris Matthews told his staff tonight that he will not be running for the U.S. Senate in 2010 from Pennsylvania, ending months of mind-numbing speculation.
That move bumps up the profiles of the lesser known but more qualified possible Democratic contenders: State Rep. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy -- both of whom hail from eastern Pennsylvania.
Whoever wins that spot would possibly face incumbent Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, depending on whether Pennsylvania’s longest-serving senator is “primaried” or not next spring.
Specter faced a grueling
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
It sounds as though Chrissy has lost the “tingle.”
I’d love it if Santorum would run against Specter in the primary.
I’m betting Matthews knows enough history to see the pendulum will be swinging the other way in 2010.
When I saw Murphy in your headline...I thought of Tom (Smurfy) Murphy (former Mayor of the Burgh). Yikes. Glad to see its another Murphy...but not happy that W. PA is still not represented.
Big Dittos to what you said!
Glad to see its another Murphy...but not happy that W. PA is still not represented.
This Murphy is a BS artist. He served in Iraq and I praise him for that. My problem is that he served in Iraq as an Army JAG Officer. I also respect that, but he said many times that he led troops up Ambush alley in Baghdad. Other than the TV show JAG, no JAG Officer has ever led anybody in combat. His service in Iraq is commendable on it own, but his embellishment is unpardonable. He is a LIAR!!
It would be nice to see a Republican win that Seat.
I’m not shocked at this. I also wouldn’t be shocked if Specter were to change his mind and retire.
He backed Specter in the last primary. His opposition would’ve made a difference.
Too bad. I think he would’ve bombed in a general election if he made it through the primary.
Specter is one of the few Republicans who can win statewide in PA. In fact, since 2000, he’s the only one. I’m not saying he doesn’t have his faults, but he voted for Roberts and Alito, he would have voted for a 3rd conservative if somethign had happened to Stevens, he supported Bush and the party on pretty much every important issue.
We could do a lot worse than Specter...such as another liberal democrat.
At this stage we need to be preserving what we do have and not wanting to see our numbers in the Senate dwindle even more
That was the logic that Santorum used to support Specter over Toomey. That logic cost Santorum his seat in the Senate....so it kinda backfired on him.
We need to purge the RINOs.
Maybe we could talk Specter into changing his registration to Democrat so we could run a conservative Republican against him. On the other hand, Specter with his age and health issues may just decide to retire. I'd do everything I could to encourage that.
No, it’s the “Lion of Baghdad”, Congressman Pat Murphy...and no I am not on drugs. Apparently there are a large number of people—lefties— who want him to run and think he is qualified. After all, if Senator Casey is the benchmark, damn near anybody of 35 is qualified!
Your arguements are persuasive in a case like Collins or Snowe, but Arlen is near death and he is visibly debilitated from the cancer. I don’t think he can win against a younger candidate.
Perhaps not, but he has a vastly better chance than any one who might beat him in a primary. Toomey? Santorum? Please.
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