Posted on 04/08/2009 9:12:28 AM PDT by BGHater
Sen. Arlen Specter on Tuesday said that former Rep. Pat Toomey is too conservative to win a general election race in Pennsylvania, claiming his likely primary opponent "is to the right of Rick Santorum."
During an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, Specter (R-Pa.) provided a preview of his strategy against Toomey. Specter said Toomey fought for deregulation, embraced private accounts in Social Security and, if nominated, would lose the general election and allow Democrats to pass so-called card-check legislation favored by organized labor.
Specter said Toomey is "to the right" of former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), adding, "Santorum lost by 18 points [in 2006], spent $31 million and was a two-term incumbent."
The jab at Santorum comes in the wake of Santorum's silence on whether he will endorse Specter's bid for a sixth term. Santorum backed Specter in his tight 2004 primary win over Toomey. President Bush also backed Specter over Toomey.
"If Toomey is the nominee, you can be sure he'll lose," Specter said, claiming Democrats would then have the votes to pass card-check and allow the White House and congressional Democrats to steamroll their agenda through Congress.
Reacting to Specter's comments, Toomey said, "This is more grasping at straws by Arlen Specter. I have won three general elections in Pennsylvania and lost none. Specter might believe you have to be a liberal like him in order to win in Pennsylvania, but I do not share that view, nor do most Pennsylvania Republicans."
Specter last week launched ads criticizing Toomey, who has not officially declared he will run against the Pennsylvania senator.
A spokesman for Toomey last week returned fire on Specter.
“Pennsylvanians have come to expect bizarre behavior from Arlen Specter, but this takes his desperation to a new and very strange level," Toomey spokesman Mark Harris said at the time. "Specter can’t defend his own liberal record, so he’s attacking Pat Toomey, who isn’t even in the race yet, with lies about work Pat did 20 years ago. It looks like Specter wants to put Pennsylvanians through a long, dishonest campaign ... for one final time.”
Shut up, worthless RINO!
Sphincter is looking for another magic bullet...
Electorate BLACKMAIL! Snarlin Arlen is despicable.
At the rate things are going, “to the right of Santorum” might look pretty good to Pennsylvania voters in November 2010.
Rick Santorum helped Arlen win his seat last time, which is WHY Rick lost his!! Rick, a good man, made a pact with the devil and the devil won because Rick lost his soul for a while.
Powder..patch..ball FIRE!
He is running scared.... Trying to cut out the competition early.
And that’s a bad thing?
The only thing worse than a liberal Democrat, is a liberal Republican.
Of course Specter is to the right of Jay Rockefeller...barely.
Spector is probably right Toomey is to far right to win in PA, but Spector can’t win either. Most likely a Dem will win-crying shame. A Dem may win in Ohio as well...this would give the Dems 61 votes in the Senate...Kit Bond’s seat is up as well. I don’t know what the prospects are in this case.
Maybe he needs some "hip hop" help?
Sounds like Specter is running scared.
How can Spector NOT have a brain tumor???
Low Whistle... Wow, I wonder if that strategy is correct.
I want to believe otherwise, but Pa. went solidly for Hussein, even after his bitter clinger to guns and religion remarks.
I’m more interested in seeing Specter lose, frankly. Worthless piece of liberal garbage. He’s the poster boy for term limits.
Specter can’t win - Is to left of Kennedy.
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