Posted on 04/15/2009 6:57:46 PM PDT by St. Louis Conservative
Former Pennsylvania Rep. Pat Toomey announced his primary bid against Arlen Specter today, Tax Day, in a video message on his website.
Following his announcement, in an interview with THE WEEKLY STANDARD, Rep. Toomey responded to Republican concerns that he would be a weaker candidate than Sen. Specter in the general election.
"There's not a doubt in my mind," Toomey said, that he has a better chance of "winning the general election than Arlen Specter." Toomey pointed out that he was elected an reelected twice in a Democratic-leaning Lehigh Valley congressional district. "I've proven that I can win Democratic votes in a Democratic region," he said, noting that the "district has voted for the Democratic [presidential] nominee in the last 5 elections." He believes he can appeal to Democrats statewide with the same message of "fiscal discipline that appealed to Democrats in Lehigh Valley."
"I can tell you that our own internal polling shows that I have an excellent chance" of winning the general election, he said. "Once [public] groups do polls it will be clear."
Toomey also pointed out Sen. Specter's potential weakness in a general election. Specter "is in a weaker position now than Rick Santorum was in the 2006 cycle," Toomey said. A Quinnipiac poll in February of 2005 showed that 53 percent of voters said Santorum deserved reelection, and 30 percent said he did not, while a March 2009 Quinnipiac poll showed 38 percent of voters said Specter deserves reelection, and 41 percent said he did not.
Specter has "completely overstayed his welcome with voters of all stripes," said Toomey, adding that "antipathy toward Specter among Republicans is so great, that it would ensure a third party candidate" from the constitution or libertarian party would emerge and win "10 or even as much as 15 points"....
(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...
Too bad W backed Snarlin Arlin back in his last election over Toomey. It’s always a good time to go RINO hunting, I’ll expect Steele to back the incumbent (unfortunately).
What will Steele do?
In a primary battle in Marylands 1st congressional district between RINO congressman Gilcrest and conservative pro-life republican Andy Harris, Steele backed the Rino.
Almost every republican in Maryland, including Robert Ehrlich (the former GOP governor of MD who Steele was Lt. Gov with)supported the conservative.
Harris defeated the rino and then in the general election the rino endorsed the democrat and Harris lost in a very close race in a very conservative district.
Cornyn as NRSC Chairman has already threw his support behind Specter.
I’m from Pa, and I consider Specter a traitor. This time, it won’t matter which Republicans support this socialist. Most Republicans finally see through him, and Toomey will be nominated. Bob
I hate this dirtbag so much I would vote for a vegan anti-gun PETA freak to pry him out of his sinecure.
Who? Arlen?
I will never pull the lever for Specter again, even if he wins the GOP nomination.
I don’t think Specter stands a chance. Even if he wins a Dem will beat him in the general.
THEN, next time around, work for a real Republican. The GOP national leadership would rather play a numbers game for Congressional seats than to dump this ARROGANT (now listen YOUNG LADY to Laura Ingraham when she had the temerity to question this nasty Judas on policy) Benedict Arnold than work for a real Republican. Its why the GOP is morally bankrupt on the National Level.
Think about this. Would the DNC support a Democrat who claimed to be pro-life, pro-gun, anti-illegal aliens and religion?
I we can get Bush to endorse Sphinkter again like last time that should put Toomey over the top for sure.
“If” we can get...Dang typo.
I just went to Toomey’s website, and donated $25. It’s the least I can do, and anything that results in Arlen Spector’s departure is a net sum gain for our side.
Celebrate today by making a difference, and send a Twenty to Toomey...
At the Pittsburgh Tea Party today the biggest boos went out at the mention of Benedict Arlen. And that’s saying something.
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