Rep. Hoeffel (D) to Run for Pa. Senate Seat

The Associated Press ^ | 6/20/03 | Lara Jakes Jordan

[LdSentinal]

WASHINGTON - A Democratic congressman has decided to abandon his suburban Philadelphia seat to run for the Senate seat now held by Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, The Associated Press has learned.

The decision by Rep. Joseph Hoeffel probably will pit the three-term Democrat against the winner of a bruising Republican primary next April between the moderate Specter and a challenger who already has announced, conservative Rep. Pat Toomey , R-Pa.

Hoeffel's formal announcement will come in the next several weeks, a source with knowledge of his decision said on condition of anonymity.

His spokesman, Frank X. Custer, would not confirm Hoeffel's decision but said the congressman "believes he's going to run."

Specter has held the seat since 1981. Democrats are hoping Toomey's challenge will suck money and energy from the victor for the 2004 general election.

Specter's campaign manager, Christopher Nicholas, said the senator "always expected to have a general election opponent, and whoever the Democratic nominee is, we'll deal with them in the general."

Toomey campaign manager Morrie Pulley said he'd welcome Hoeffel to the race, but "until he makes a formal announcement, we're going to reserve comment."

Little known outside Philadelphia and suburban Montgomery County, where he lives, Hoeffel, 52, narrowly won re-election to his House seat last year against a Republican political neophyte. He prevailed with 51 percent of the vote in a district closely divided by Republicans and Democrats.

But Wilkes University political scientist Thomas J. Baldino said Hoeffel's victory in that tight race could forecast statewide success.

"He can run as someone who appeals to the broad, centrist political attitude," Baldino said. "He's been successful in a rather evenly balanced, if not slightly conservative, district. So though he's an unknown, he can run on a track record of satisfying that kind of constituency."

Hoeffel has a solidly liberal voting record on social and economic questions for his first four years in the House and has grown increasingly dovish on foreign policy since the war in Iraq.

Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than a half-million registered voters in Pennsylvania, according to May 2002 data.

[LdSentinal]

Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District after redistricting . . .

Gore: 55.8%
Bush: 42.2%
Nader: 2.1%

Pennsylvania: New Congressional Districts for 2002

I'm sad to say it, but it appears only a RINO could win this district. Or hope that Bush's coattails are so strong in '04 that they can put any Republican into this seat.

[randita]

ping for this development

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Democrats are hoping Toomey's challenge will suck money and energy from the victor for the 2004 general election.

According to: http://www.northamptoncountygop.com/calendar.htm., Arlen's coming to Northampton County.

Jun 30 Arlen Specter Town Meeting, 11:30AM, Forks Township Municipal Building in Easton

Jun 30 Arlen Specter Luncheon for Committeepeople, details TBA

[fieldmarshaldj]

Probably a far-fetched notion, but does anyone think this is payback to Bob Borski for his gracefully stepping aside last year ? It seems practically a done deal for his return to Congress since if it's a contest between Borski and a Greenwoodite pro-partial birth abortion RINO, a lot of Conservatives will go with Borski. Saying that, though, I do believe this district will swing to Dubya in '04. It seemed the big reason he lost PA in '00 was the last-minute 'Rat dirty trick revelation about the drunk-driving charge.

[Kuksool]

I hope the upcoming GOP primary between Toomey and Spector doesn't turn into a blood bath which would enable Hoeffel to win the general election.

[fieldmarshaldj]

It doesn't have to be if Specter announces his retirement. :-)

[MainstreamConservative]

I'm not sure Borski would prevail over a Greenwood type "Republican." Montgomery County, as well as Bucks and Delaware, are absolutely filled with RINO's who hold views very similar to Greenwood and Specter. They would be more than happy to vote for someone of their ilk. Also, you might see some of the feminists (mostly registered democrats) vote for the RINO rather than Borski because of his relative social conservatism.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Pretty much sounds like it'll be a contest similar to ME-1 between pro-life 'Rat Michaud and RINO pro-aborter Raye. You can probably guess who I would've voted for. I'm really getting sick of these pro-abort RINOs. They're nothing but a 21st Century version of a Cotton Whig (or what we could call a WHINO, since Conscience Whigs were the only real Whigs in my opinion)...

[fieldmarshaldj]

Forgot to add, if it IS a contest like ME-1, I wouldn't count Borski out. A lot of those Portland radicals turned out to vote for Raye over Michaud, and the latter still won.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Where is my brain ? That should be ME-2, and Portland is nowhere to be found in the 2nd, although the Portland crowd was in a snit that Michaud prevailed out in the sticks and a lot of pro-abort women sided with Raye, but still didn't put the latter over the top.

[MainstreamConservative]

Yeah, except it's damn near impossible to elect a pro-lifer of any sort. Delaware County, for example, went to Gore by a two to one margin despite a two to one republican registration edge. The main reason that happened was because they apparently couldn't stand Bush's pro-life views. Afterall, they don't want "those people" reproducing.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I still wouldn't give up trying, it's too important. I believe Dubya will carry PA in '04.

[MainstreamConservative]

"I still wouldn't give up trying, it's too important. I believe Dubya will carry PA in '04"

Oh, I'm not saying we should give up, it's just that it will be VERY difficult to elect a bonafide conservative in that district. I used to live there and it is a RINO swampland. I too believe President Bush will carry Pennsylvania, by the way.