Poll: Toomey Ahead Of Specter By 21 Points For 2010 Senate Primary
A new Rasmussen poll of Pennsylvania finds that Arlen Specter appears to be in serious trouble going into his 2010 primary against conservative challenger Pat Toomey.
The numbers: Toomey 51%, Specter 30%.
Toomey, a former Congressman, previously ran against Specter in the 2004 primary, and made it into a 51%-49% race. Specter has since provided Toomey a huge opening this time thanks to his vote for the stimulus bill. And Pennsylvania is a closed-primary state, too, meaning that Specter faces a conservative base vote.
From the pollster's analysis: "In another sign that could be troubling for Specter, the current poll finds that 79% of Pennsylvania Republicans have a favorable opinion of the "Tea Party" protests against big government spending and higher taxes held across the nation last week. Thirty percent (30%) know someone personally who took part."
Josh
Matt
Eric
So what's he gonna do now, try to out-Cornyn Cornyn between now and 2010? Even that won't budge the numbers. And would make him totally unelectable in the general even if it miraculously worked.
Really, really stupid of you not to switch parties, Arlen. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
April 24, 2009 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Can you say "Senator Sestak, boys and girls?"
April 24, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I voted for Sestak back when I lived in Pennsylvania. You're welcome everyone.
I don't know if Sestak would be considered too soon considering he's just now finishing up his second term in the House, but I can't think of anybody better to serve Pennsylvania right now. He gets my money if he wants it.
April 24, 2009 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Xantar,
I agree, its too early for Sestak or my Congressman Patrick Murphy. I think it would be good to find a strong candidate from Western or maybe Central Pa. if there are any. I wonder how Franco Harris would fare, he's a Dem activist and still lives in the Pittsburgh area.
Two Senators from Eastern PA might not be attractive to people outside the Eastern area.
April 24, 2009 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's too early for a two-term congressman who was an admiral but it's OK to run Harris who has never held any elected office in his life? Makes total sense. NOT!
April 24, 2009 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually it's better to run a fresh face for a seat like that...less baggage, less paper trail to run against...less opportunity for Republicans to develop a successful campaign based on the politics of personal destruction.
April 24, 2009 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd say Senator Schwartz.
April 24, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Switch parties now, the extreme right wing of the party is going down for the last time.
April 24, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Checkmate?
I think Arlen should have moved to the middle.
He moved to the right, and all it got him was a stab in the back by the thugs in the GOP.
April 24, 2009 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I love the smell of a GOP ideological purity test in the morning... It reminds me that the sky really is a different color in the world of those who think they can run to the hard right and still be relevant.
April 24, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dems edging closer to 60, I see.
April 24, 2009 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, assuming the good people of your state get over their mad at Dodd.
On the other hand, Richard Burr's looking creaky, so we may have one to spare.
April 24, 2009 8:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time for Sen. Specter to get off the crazy train. He can be comfortable knowing that he didn't leave the party, they left him. Go big I or big D!
The little r's are all running to the big fat dumb R that is Rush Limbaugh. Don't make the same mistake.
April 24, 2009 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter has over a year to redeem himself. He's old, he's sick,and he should exit gracefully by announcing his retirement. Until his retirement day comes, he should vote his conscience instead of the rotten republican party line.
April 24, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still don't get why Specter didn't switch parties. No doubt he thought he could exert greater influce being a swing GOP'er on the path to 60 for cloture votes. But he didn't grasp the notion that it would kill him in primaries. He'd be far better off in PA to "see the light", switch parties and go full scale Obama Supporter. Pick a few items that he's strongly against for his battles with Obama, but 95% get across that he's a support of the Admin's agenda to keep from getting into a Dem primary battle.
He's trying to be too cute, and he's lost sight of the fact that the GOP has been reduce down to being controlled by the Insane Core of its base.
John
April 24, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
With Specter's history and experience, it is surprising that he so miscalculated his political future. Had he switched to an independent, caucused with the Ds and supported EFCA he would have had serious leverage to gain himself senior committee positions or other perks. Instead he reversed his own prior position, alienated a large pro-union population and is going down in flames in the primary. Just to be clear, I'm not complainin'.
April 24, 2009 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
We already have enough centrist Dems in the Senate. Let a solid rustbelt Democrat replace him.
April 24, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I heard Ed Rendell say that if Specter does lose to this guy, it would be a win win for the dems as there is no way the right winger can win.
I hope Rendell is right and btw, I am a former Pennsylvanian and I think Sestak would be a great candidate.
April 24, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Someone start a "Draft Sestak" petiton NOW!
April 24, 2009 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink