1. Incumbents have strong retaining power.
2. Hoeffel has shown he's won tough elections before. Montgomery County is not easy for anyone to win and leans only slightly democrat.
3. With Specter gone in 6, an open seat would be easier for Toomey or someone else to win than against an incumbent.
And even a single A pitcher sometimes gets called up late in the season to get a shot at the big leagues. If he's called up to be the deciding vote on an issue, it won't look good.
If the dem was a Bob Casey dem, it would be one thing. Instead, it's a John Kerry dem.
Dan, thanks for weighing in again.
Yes it is risky for us to vote in a liberal, but we are also voting out a guy who has voted like a liberal (and worse than some) Dems.
I'd much rather have Hoeffel with no power, than Specter with lots of power. If memory serves me right, the Judiciary committee chairman is the ONE who decides whether GUN legislation gets to the floor for a vote. Do you want Arlen in that position? I don't. And the BEST chance of removing him is to vote directly for the opponent.
"And even a single A pitcher sometimes gets called up late in the season to get a shot at the big leagues. If he's called up to be the deciding vote on an issue, it won't look good."
That is true...however, as I said, those are the very talented, outstanding players who are called up. If he is "called up" to be the deciding vote on AN issue, that is one issue, where Specter will be right there already and will make many, many votes, (as his history loudly proclaims) on the other side.
As for Hoeffel being re-elected in 2010, consider this, many voters (as they do not choose to or do not wish to educate themselves on the candidates, nor the issues) go purely, or at least primarily on name-recognition. They, (barring that outstanding talent that Hoeffel may be hiding), will hear little of him (Hoeffel)during this term...however, have heard and will continue to hear of Toomey. The support brought together for Toomey in the primary was incredible!