Specter and Toomey Debate Live Now on Many Pa. Stations

[Pafreedom]

Spector and Toomey Live now on Pa TV. Any out there want to start a thread.

[azcap]

Why are the RNC and GOP so stuck on Arlen?

 

It not necessarily a "good ol' boys club" scenario. Given the free choice a lot of the RNC and GOP leadership would rather have Toomey but you have to understand that the instant the national party leadership showed support for Toomey there would be a panic in the offices Senators, Snow, Collins, Chafee, and McCain. It is not a matter of losing one seat because you picked too conservative of a candidate. It is a matter of avoiding 3-4 Jeffords incidents if you spook the RINOs . Short of criminal wrongdoing the national party will always back the incumbent.

[Tribune7]

You're OK, Cie, whoever you vote for. :-)

[azcap]

When Toomey beats Specter the RNC will quickly rally to Toomey. I would expect to see President Bush, Cheney, Giulliani, et al campaigning at his side several times this summer and fall.

[Tribune7]

Specter is unquotable. The TV is the other room so I'm running back & forth.

I can't emphasize how bad Specter looks. He looks ill, he's sloppy. This is the worst I've ever seen him in the debate. I don't think he's going to win the general if he should win the primary.

Toomey just got finished making a great argument for school choice.

[fiftymegaton]

Which is another reason why all the RINOs need to be weeded out. VOTE CONSERVATIVE! Primary elections like this one in essence define the future of the party. And what is the point in nominating a republican who votes with the dems half(more for Spector) of the time?

[Tribune7]

Toomey's talking about Social Security reform -- the current system is unsustainable. He won't cut benefits for those now in it. He advocating letting people invest some of their SS taxes.

[deport]

Watch for a poll that is taken post debate........

[Tribune7]

Specter is now talking about how his senority gives him a chance to bring home pork.

[Tribune7]

FYI, when I turned it on Toomey was hitting him pretty good on his support for the International Crime Court. Specter was rattled.

[Tribune7]

Specter is making a lot of personal attacks on Toomey. Toomey is generally refraining from making them.

[zook]

I'm glad he hit on school choice--Specter voted against it.

[zook]

Specter has been rattled for the past decade.

[Tribune7]

Specter just forgot where he was in the debate.

[Tall_Texan]

So, if Pat Toomey wins the nomination, will Senator Santorum, the RNC & GOP then trow their full backing and support behind candidate Toomey?

Judging from the way Rove and the RNC cut and run from Schundler in NJ and Simon in CA, I'd guess Toomey is on his own. Rove doesn't like it when his annointed RINOs are upstaged in the primaries.

[Tribune7]

Debates over. I thought Toomey did great.

[fiftymegaton]

Can't wait to see how the local media spins it here in western PA.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Big difference. This is a Senate seat, not a governor's seat. They can't afford to let Toomey twist in the wind if they want to keep the Senate. They'll march with Toomey, bank on it.

[Temple Owl]

Toomey looked really good. Specter appeared to be a washed up old man. I think Toomey will be an even better senator than Rick Santorum.

[Lancey Howard]

Toomey presented himself very well tonight. It was the first time i have had to see him and hear him and I was impressed. He was poised, articulate, and convincing. No way did he lose a single vote tonight. In fact, he probably made it easier for those voters who were unfamiliar with him to vote for him.

[Temple Owl]

When Toomey beats Specter the RNC will quickly rally to Toomey. I would expect to see President Bush, Cheney, Giulliani, et al campaigning at his side several times this summer and fall.

You got that exactly right!