Posted on 05/14/2009 5:26:12 PM PDT by jazusamo
Democrat Joe Torsella is exiting the race for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat, stepping aside for newly Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) and clearing the primary field -- for the moment, at least.
Torsella, a former deputy mayor of Philadelphia and head of the National Constitution Center, was the only major Democrat in the race until Specter switched parties last month. He raised a very respectable $600,000 in the first quarter and vowed to stay in the race after Specter switched.
On Thursday, though, Torsella said in a video that he will no longer be a candidate.
“Now that the dust has settled, it’s clear to me that the kind of campaign that this would become is not the kind of campaign you or I signed up for,” Torsella said. “It will probably be negative, personal and more about Sen. Specter’s past than about our common future.”
Attention will now turn to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), who has continued to make noise about Specter’s party switch and a possible primary.
Since the switch, Democratic leaders in Washington, including President Obama, have announced their support for Specter.
“When I heard about Sen. Specter’s switch, I was moved towards the decision to make the run,” Sestak recently told the Philadelphia Bulletin. “I was disappointed in the Washington, D.C. political establishment.”
Despite the establishment support, Specter’s switch has been accompanied by myriad disagreements with his new colleagues, including whether he would maintain his seniority and whom he wants to win Minnesota’s Senate race (he said he wanted Republican Norm Coleman to win).
Torsella said he will return the contributions he’s received for his campaign. He also said he’s been offered nothing in exchange for his exit from the race.
I’m a firm believer that things do not end well for vermin like Specter.
He will obtain his just reward.
This would give a good “opportunity” for a third-party conservative/ or Republican group to remind Democrat voters that Senator Spector was against “card-check” as well as supported the Iraq war. (It may provoke a back-lash, if we P U S H hard enough!).
Yep this is what he gets for agreeing to card check. Just wait until a BigMac costs $12!
Which means a deal has been cut and he will vote for Card Check when it rears its ugly head again.
Well, if Specter has in fact just sold his soul to the SEIU, it might not be healthy to oppose them.
Saw today the Specter left some wiggle room on his card-check stance and may support it, if it’ll get him a few votes he’ll probably flip.
No, what's happening is that Torsella is playing the role of the fall guy and making it appear that Specter will be the Dem nominee. Trust me, he won't. Specter is of no use for the Dems because of his age (80) and he can't be trusted.
Didn’t I read somewhere that a former RAT governor...or perhaps the current one....had his eye on DC?
>> if it’ll get him a few votes he’ll probably flip
Some things never change.
Does Arlen Specter have ANY principles whatsoever? ANY?
I'm sure he at least was offered an opportunity NOT to wear cement overshoes.
Hope you’re right, I’d be nice to see Specter out on his rear.
Hey, jaz! Wasn’t Chris Matthews, the “Hardball” guy, going to run for Spector’s seat? Guess Matthews found out that his two fans don’t live in eastern Pennsylvania.
LOL!
Yeah, Chrissy was talking about it but found out his chances were slim to zero, mostly zero. What an idiot!
LOL!
Your first post fits him better.
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