Toomey Considering Another GOP Primary Challenge Against Specter, Thanks To Stimulus Vote
Former Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA), who just barely lost a 51%-49% primary challenge from the right against GOP Senator Arlen Specter back in 2004, now says that a run against Specter is "back on the table" in the wake of Specter's support for the stimulus.
Toomey had been publicly mulling a run for governor in 2010, but he told talk-radio host Bobby Gunther Walsh just how much he objected to the stimulus bill: "Senator Specter cast the deciding vote on the very worrisome stimulus Bill, when he could have negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama for more productive tax cuts and less wasteful spending."
If Specter wins the primary, he'll be the initial favorite against the Democratic candidate. But if Toomey or another right-wing challenger takes the nomination, the Dems' chances of gaining the seat would likely go up significantly.
(Via Taegan Goddard.)
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
I wouldn't be so sure. Toomey could force Specter to tack right to win the primary, which would make it harder for him to claim the center in the general. This is just another example of the GOP circular firing squad.
March 2, 2009 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Dems are considering running? Have any already announced their candidacy yet?
March 2, 2009 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Last I heard, the only individual who was running for the dems was Rep. Patrick Murphy.
March 2, 2009 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
As much as I'd like to see the seat go to a Dem, it would be funny to see Specter pull a Lieberman.
March 2, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
As much as I'd like to see the seat go to a Dem, it would be funny to see Specter pull a Lieberman.
not funny enough
March 2, 2009 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
SEN. HARRY REID, TRAITOR TO AMERICAN WORKERS! E-VERIFY! 99.6 % SUCCESS RATE!
Don't let E-Verify expire and play into the hands of the corporate overlords and pro-illegal immigration special Interest lobby?
It's incoherent to me that Americans cannot conceive, that they have the ultimate power to halt this corruption in Washington? The major priority is to stop illegal labor getting work. American workers must command mandatory E-verify from these inanimate politicians? Don't let the corporate overlords win anymore? March 6th, is the deadline to stop this corruption in the Congress. Don't hesitate to stop head traitor Harry Reid of Nevada who secretly eroded the power of E-Verify? His Partners in dropping this major law was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Senator Gutierrez (D-IL), Sen. Feinstein (D-CAL), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ),Max Baucus (D-MT), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Not only are politicians involved in intentionally engineering this illegal immigration crisis? State Governors, Mayors, judges, county elected officers and city officials qualify equally to be thrown out on the street? Although all of them can get a favorable job with the ominous US Chamber of Commerce, Council of La Raza and other open borders special interest groups. Find out the honest politicians that support E-Verify, like Sen. Sessions, Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA). that would smash illegal immigration priority in the workplace. Locate those who killed E-Verify? Ruin their careers when they come up for re-election. Remember the deaths caused in Sanctuary cities nationwide by illegal alien gang members.
The whole country is feeling the financial pressure, for paying for schooling, health care and prisons. Your also paying for traffic gridlock, and high environmental damage caused by overpopulation.
Explode your anger at these lawmakers on the capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121. Leave a message for President Obama at 202) 224-3121
What www.judicialwatch.org has to say about political corruption
March 2, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
What the Hell kind of swamp weed are you smoking?
March 2, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rep Alyson Schwartz is also mulling a run, along with Tim Murphy. The strongest candidate would be Ed Rendell, but he apparently does not want to run. Another strong candidate not willing to run is Rep. Joe Sestak.
March 2, 2009 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Recent dicussions have been held that suggest the "serious money" Dems are starting to weigh-in to have Congressman Joe Sestak run against Specter.... given Sestak's fundraising prowess; military career; Congressional accomplishments; and popularity/high name-recognition in Southeastern PA where 40% of the vote in PA resides.
For those who don't know Sestak's background, he ran for Congress in 2006 after completing his 31-year distinquished military career, rising to the rank of a 3-star Admiral. He commanded the George Washington carrier battle group (30 ships; 15,000 sailors/marines/pilots/SEALs; 100 aircraft) in combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq; served as President Clinton's Director of Defense Policy in the White House on the National Security Council; and after 9/11 the Navy selected Sestak to head-up and create "Deep Blue", the Navy's anti-terrorism unit. He graduated 2nd in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and earned a PhD from Harvard Univesity.
Sestak defeated 20-year Republican Congressman Curt Weldon in 2006 (defeating the highest ranking Republican that year), becoming only the 2nd Democratic Congressman to hold the seat since President Lincoln was in office.
Sestak's military background plays well in the more conservative western and central parts of PA, and he possesses high popularity and name recognition in the voter-rich, recently turned "Democratic suburbs" of Philly. He's a "warhorse" when it comes to fundraising... always near the top (raised $3.6 million in 2006 and $3.9 million in 2008). Plus, he's currently sitting on a war chest of $3 million cash-on-hand, 2nd highest total of all the 436 Congressmen.
March 3, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink