Posted on 03/04/2009 3:25:52 AM PST by Born Conservative
MAYBE IT'S time Arlen came home.
I mean Arlen Specter. And I mean to the Democratic Party.
He was, after all, a Democrat during his first few decades (went Republican in '65 to run for D.A.); maybe he should be a Democrat in his last few.
And maybe, as he seeks his sixth Senate term, that's how he could hang onto the office he has held longer than any other Pennsylvanian.
I say this because of news this week that former Lehigh Valley congressman and conservative Republican Pat Toomey is "considering" challenging Specter in next year's GOP Senate primary. Yesterday, wealthy GOP Pittsburgh businessman Glen Meakem, who thought about running, said he will not be a candidate, I assume because he knows "considering" in pol-speak usually means "I'm in."
If that's what Toomey means, it's bad news for Specter.
The 79-year-old, 30-year incumbent narrowly survived a 2004 Toomey challenge to win renomination with a scant 1.6 percent of the vote, a margin of just 17,146 votes out of more than 1.04 million cast.
And with Specter one of only three Republican senators supporting President Obama's economic- stimulus efforts - an action many conservatives see as worse than opposing Reagan Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork in 1987 for which Specter was labeled "Benedict Arlen" - the long knives are out.
And, yeah, I know Specter said "no" when asked if he'd consider a switch. (He also said Gov. Ed pledged to raise money for a Democratic Specter, to which Specter replied, "If I became a Democrat, I wouldn't have to raise any money.")
But deep-water politics has ever-changing currents. And some things that have changed since '04 do not flow Specter's way.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
Now youre talking.
“Can Toomey win in general vs. liberal rat?”
Yes, I think he could. In 2004, the Dems ran, Joe Hoeffel, I believe, a little known undistinguished hack Congressman from Montgomery County. Probably because they didn’t want to waste a strong candidate against Specter. Had Toomey pulled the upset, he probably would have beaten Hoeffel.
If Toomey knocks off Specter in the primary, he could definitely win in the general. 2010 could be a conservative year, after 2 years of Marxist Obama.
Of course, there’s a good chance Specter will run as a Democrat, where he would be tougher to beat. Or, he might run as a Republican, lose, and then run in the general as an Independent, like Lieberman. Any way you look at it, the odds are stacked against Toomey, but at least I’d have somebody I could support without needing to take a shower.
The real question is why should ANYBODY be in the senate for 30 years?
Jim
exactly
Toomey can win. I hate to say it but he has to stay away from the abortion fight and stick with what Specter is doing now in Washington. Hammer the billions in spending so much that Specter is buried.
That might be the reasonable thing to do, but Steele is also a liberal. He'll tap dance around this issue.
I don’t expect very much in the way of leadership from Steele.
You are absolutely right about the abortion. I live in PA, and many people around here are turned off by the “family values” preachiness of some GOP candidates. I think that’s a big reason why Santorum was flushed. Toomey should be able to capitalize on the “change” theme, although this time for the good. Things have gone to hell in the last 20 years, and who’s been there through it all? Arlen Specter.
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