Posted on 02/09/2009 8:07:38 AM PST by Born Conservative
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is a marked moderate.
In the Senate, the Philadelphia Republican voted mostly with his party last year, but with the Democrats more than a third of the time.
Neither side thinks that’s enough and both want to beat him when he seeks an unprecedented sixth six-year term next year.
Conservative Republicans consider him a RINO — a “Republican in name only.” They would like nothing better than if one of their own knocked him off in the Republican primary and took their anti-government, lower-taxes, anti-abortion fight to the Democrats.
“I think he’s extremely vulnerable in the Republican primary,” said Chris Lilik, the president of Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania, who helped a strong conservative challenger, Pat Toomey, almost upset Specter in the 2004 GOP primary.
“I think he is more vulnerable from an attack from a conservative Republican than a moderate or liberal Democrat,” Democratic media consultant Ed Mitchell said.
Democrats, looking to expand their Senate majority to a filibuster-proof 60 votes, want a more reliable ally.
“To his credit, once in a while, he’s with us,” state Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney said. “Given the choice, we prefer to have a Democrat who’s with us all the time instead of just when it’s politically expedient.”
Plenty talk, little action
Rooney predicts two tough races for Specter next year.
The problem for Democrats and Republicans who would like to take him out is this: for all the talk of challengers, almost no one is overtly acting like one.
The lone exception is Democrat Joseph M. Torsella, the former president and chief executive officer of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Torsella, a Berwick native who lives in suburban Philadelphia, plans to file papers forming a campaign committee today.
The Democrats’ best-known hope, MSNBC “Hardball” anchor Chris Matthews, said last month he wouldn’t run. Their list of about seven names is relatively unknown, save for ex-football player Franco Harris, who hasn’t publicly indicated interest.
“I think it would have to be a Democratic rock star,” said Lance Stange, secretary of the Lackawanna County Republican Party. “It will be very difficult for Democrats to replicate 2008.”
The Republican field is slimmer. When Toomey announced last month he won’t run for the Senate again, conservatives lost their favorite son. Their best-known potential challenger at the moment is Margaret “Peg” Luksik, a staunch anti-abortionist who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1994. Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta acknowledged Saturday he was approached by several Republicans to run, but said he likes the senator and doesn’t want to run against him.
With Specter’s proven ability to raise money ($5.8 million banked), any challenger better get started soon.
“It’s not too late to get in right now, but I wouldn’t wait too long,” said Ted Meehan, the president and founder of the Reagan Caucus, a group of conservatives who met over the weekend during the state Republican Party meeting in Harrisburg.
Attacks on both sides
Specter, who is in the region today for a fundraiser and tour of Schott Glass Technologies plant in Duryea, just rehired Chris Nicholas, who guided his successful 2004 race.
Of his upcoming re-election campaign, Specter, frequently quoting Baseball Hall of Famer Satchel Paige, says he runs with the attitude, “Don’t look back, someone may be gaining on you.”
“Arlen has a really unique situation,” former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, a Republican, said. “He has a pretty rock solid base in the southeast, which not many Republicans have any more, and he’s got Republicans in the rest of the state” and he’s popular with some Democrats.
Conservatives’ distaste for Specter begins with his support for abortion rights. They also question his fiscal conservatism. They were almost apoplectic over the weekend because he appears ready to be one of two or three Republicans to support the Senate version of Obama’s costly economic stimulus plan.
“If it’s a big vote, Arlen’s the first one to cave,” Meehan said. “It (the stimulus bill) gets to the Senate; the Republicans make a stand, and Arlen caves.”
They fear he’ll vote for a bill to make it easier for unions to form.
Though the last two congressional elections overwhelmingly favored Democrats, the political climate Specter will face next year is far from clear. But by then, a Democratic president will get the credit or blame rather than the Democrats’ favorite whipping boy, President George W. Bush, their target in 2006 and 2008.
Whether Specter can withstand attacks from both sides will depend greatly on that climate. A revived economy with an Arlen Specter who voted against the stimulus would give a Democratic challenger great ammunition. If slump continues, a vote for the stimulus could help a Republican challenger.
By backing the stimulus, Specter might be showing he’s unworried about a strong conservative challenge and positioning himself to take on a Democrat. Just about everyone agrees on this: He is as smart a politician as there is going.
“I wouldn’t bet against him,” Scranton said.
A more liberal Dem as a Freshman Senator is less damaging than a multiple-term liberal Republican.
He was also supported by Rick Santorum.
See post 22.
It didn’t surprise me that the two Republican senators from Maine, Collins and Snowe, would vote for the bloated stimulus package, but I really thought that Arlen Specter was more sensible than this. Ordinarily, I would have expected to see the names of some other Republican senators (besides Collins and Snowe) signing on to this before Specter would. The only word I can think of right now to describe my sentiments towards Arlen Specter is Tom Daschle’s favorite word-disappointed.
Remember when Rush carried water not only for lib-soc Bush but also for Specter?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1117572/posts
Will Limbaugh now allow Toomey equal time on his show?
Posted on 04/14/2004 12:18:51 PM MDT by Skyleader
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1117561/posts
Arlen Specter on Rush
Posted on 04/14/2004 12:07:47 PM MDT by Phantom Lord
I didn’t remember that, but I do remember when Rush supported the auto bailout (as did Hannity).
ping
And when more jobs in PA are lost and the economy hasn’t improved if/after Sphincter (great name!) votes for this Pig in a Porkulus, he will be very, very vulnerable. All Repubs trying to unseat RINOS should have the same chant “I would NEVER have voted for this and I NEVER will if it comes up again!”
Not to mention he voted for SCHIP. Medical care for illegals and 30-year-old “children” on the backs of taxpayers making less.
Although I liked Rick Santorum, he is one of the guys that campaigned for Specter’s re-election against the real conservative Toomey. This boondoggle bill is what we get from that several years later. Thanks a lot Rick.
The good thing is, you don’t have to remember it.
You can go back and read the Freeper comments about how disgusting Rush was!!!
IIRC, there was a great deal of speculation as to whether or not Bush and the Party were going to back him. He had to assure them he was conservative and would stay on the reservation. Either he lied, or they aren’t thinking of the same reservation I am.
He has shown himself time and again unable or unwilling to back the principles embraced by conservatives.
I recall being very disappointed when Bush and the Party went with him after all. This was just after he had done some other really stupid thing, probably to do with judicial appointments.
I think we’re stuck with the bastage.
ping for Pat Toomey
The Dems have sent their most popular candidate, Bob Casey, to beat Santorum in 2006. Casey’s father was well remembered, and for a while, anyone named Bob Casey, whether related to them or not, could win statewide elections on small campaign budgets.
Those conditions don’t exist now, and there isn’t another liberal Dem with that type of name recognition.
Have you forgotten Fast Eddie. He is probably drooling over that Senate seat now.
Specter’s ACU rating for 2007 was 40 (as in: 60% Liberal).
Yeah, he is marked for retirement in the next Republican primary.
The R party has to stop supporting such people when they are up for re-election and start grooming and supporting candidates to defeat them in the primaries.
I will never forget President Bush saying when the president came out to campaign for him against Toomey, "He is with us when it counts." BS. He isn't and has never been a Republican. He's with us if something happens to come up right before reelection time. and he wants the help of the party. That's all.
The only comforting thought is that it won't be long before Arlen meets his maker. Then, all the tricks and deceit in the universe will be absolutely useless.
One more thing. We really should bring back tarring and feathering and we should start with Specter.
I can’t get through to Specter’s office. Lines have been busy for at least the last half hour!
I do remember that. At the time, it was incredible. I still don’t get why Rush did it.
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