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Sestak: Specter Didn't Shape Republican Party
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) has released on official statement on the news that Sen. Arlen Specter has become a Democrat. To wit:
This shows the principle rule of politics: tomorrow is always another day -- as today was. This may be good for Arlen, politically; however, two key questions need to be answered. First, after 31 years in the military, I learned that you run for something, not against someone. Arlen has made a decision to leave a race because he could not win against someone. What needs to be known is what he is running for. Second, I watched then-Gov. Clinton and then-Sen. Obama take a leadership position in the Democratic Party and shape it. The leadership that would have been most impressive would be if Arlen had used his role to reshape the Republican Party that he said he had entered when it was a 'big tent,' but now is leaving because it has gotten too small. In short, I believe that the principles of what he is running for and his commitment to accountable leadership are questions that still need to be addressed.
Tomorrow's another day indeed. Specter's indicating that nothing will change about his politics now that he's a Democrat. It remains to be seen whether that will be reflected in his voting record from this point forward. But Sestak's statement is a warning that he oughtn't rest on his Republican laurels.
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If Senator Specter thinks he can win the Pennsylvania Democratic primary by filibustering Democratic initiatives and President Obama's appointees, then Representative Sestak would be my first choice to oppose him in the primary.
(Unfortunately, Rep. Sestak indicated last December that he wasn't interested in running for the Senate in 2010.)
April 28, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're obviously closer to the action than a lot of us. What type of constituency does Sestek represent? Would he be able to carry the entire state?
As I recall, Specter didn't win by a landslide the last time around (I could be wrong) but it seems that, given the current numbers, he's going to be hurting in 2010 regardless of party affiliation.
Enlighten me, please.
April 28, 2009 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rep. Sestak is from the Philly suburbs, but I think his military background (former rear admiral) will play well in the mid-state. I particularly like him because he's shown considerable backbone on national security issues, something I find sadly lacking in many Democrats: he was unapologetic after meeting with CAIR, he responded to Cheney's recent fearmongering on torture, he supported Obama's military budget, etc.
Sen. Specter struggled in the primary in '04, but I'm pretty sure he won the general election easily.
April 28, 2009 7:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sestak has waited too long to jump in. He could have really boxed Specter in by announcing earlier to challenge him. Now Specter has opportunistically planted his flag first on the D side.
Timing matters a TON in politics. Those who are smart are smart about timing. I'd rather have Sestak than an opportunistic Specter.
April 28, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is just theoretical talk. There is no way Sestak will run against Specter. Sestak is not that well known honestly, and Specter shares the same constituency that Sestak does. Arlen gets strong support from Philly, and if BHO and Ed Rendell support Arlen, then he has no worries. His last tough general election came in 1992 against Lynn Yeakel. He will crush Pat Toomey. The only threat to Specter in the general is if the GOP can convince Tom Ridge to run. Ridge will crush Toomey and will pose a challenge to Specter because Ridge was a very popular Governor, with Dems and GOPers alike.
April 30, 2009 6:07 AM | Reply | Permalink