Free Republic

PHILADELPHIA — Early on, Senator Arlen Specter’s supporters knew that the 80-year-old Republican-turned-Democrat was in trouble. “Turnout was terrible,” Gov. Edward G. Rendell said less than two hours before the polls closed here. And just about two hours after they had closed, he blamed the rain and the low turnout in Philadelphia for ending Mr. Specter’s 30 years in the Senate.

It's primary election day in Pa. with the polls opening at 7 in the morning and closing at 8 p.m., and what will be decided is who the major party candidates are for the general election on Nov. 2. There will also be a special election to determine who will represent Pennsylvania's 12th District in Congress for the remainder of the term left vacant by John Murtha's Feb. 9 death. The term will end Jan. 3, 2011. Senate Races The race getting the most attention is the Democratic U.S. Senate primary fight between incumbent and party-endorsed party-switcher Arlen Specter and...

Five-term Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter says he senses "victory is in the air" in Tuesday's primary election, even though he's in a close race for the Democratic nomination. Specter spoke to union members Saturday at a riverfront rally at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia. His challenger, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, was scheduled to appear at Pittsburgh rally.