PA Dems Follow Rendell: Sestak Will Have An Uphill Climb
Labor organizations may be unsure whether their old allegiances to Sen. Arlen Specter can withstand his new anti-Employee Free Choice stance. But Pennsylvania Democrats aren't nearly as conflicted--they're welcoming the new Republican with open arms, despite an older allegiance to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)
"He's our incumbent senator," noted Abe Amoros, Acting Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Democratic party. "We've welcomed him with open arms."
"Congressman Sestak is one of the hardest working congressmen in Pennsylvania," Amoros said, but, he adds, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Governor Ed Rendell "have promised to back Specter and raise money for him and make campaign appearances throughout the state."
"It's gonna be an uphill climb for anyone who challenges Senator Specter next year," Amoros said.
That's not news to Sestak, who told me earlier this week that he thinks the Democratic establishment is acting out of "expediency" and that this is a case of Democrats choosing short term gain at a potentially high long term cost.
| TOPICS: Arlen Specter, Democrats, Joe Sestak, PA-SEN, Senate, Senate '10
Josh
Matt
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Brian
Ned Lamont had an uphill fight too. Party leadership doesn't own the party (on paper, at least).
May 6, 2009 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen to this.
May 6, 2009 12:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah seriously. I remember when he announced I said to myself, this guys gonna get toasted. No matter how much money you have your not going to be able to garner enough support to beat Holy Joe. I pretty much written that race out when Lowell Weicker said no. It's amazing how you can win an election when you have enough grassroots support and cash to do it. Not to mention Lamont ran some good and creative campaign ads.
This can be done, it really can.
May 6, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Arlen Specter is a drag on the Obama agenda. His opposition to the Senator Durbin's cramdown bill and lack of support for Al Franken is totally obnoxious. He is totally unworthy of any Democratic Party support. Throw him under the bus now and get on with DNC support for Joe Sestak.
May 6, 2009 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the netroots have found their next primary battle. They just need to get Sestak to throw his hat in the ring. Can Sestak do that without giving up his seat in Congress?
Toomey would have beat Specter and Sestak would have beat Toomey - Why did the Dems make this deal?
It's my theory that Rendell wants Specter's seat but they're old friends and he'd never run against him. So this move was made to prevent another Dem from winning the seat and forever blocking Rendell in the process.
Given Rendell can't run for re-election in 2010, who's on the Dem bench to run for Governor? Isn't the Lt. Gov a Republican?
May 6, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes Walter, their Lt. Gov is a Republican, but he's not running. Right now there are three GOPers running for Governor. Attorney General Tom Corbett, Ex-U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan and Congressman Jim Gerlach, who has formed an exploretory committee.
No one on the Dems have announced, but alot of mulling it over. Moat fanously Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato who many people are say is being groomed to be Rendell's successor.
No if Sestak runs for Specter's seat, he will be forced to give up his House seat. Don't worry though, he have a good bench to retain this seat.
May 6, 2009 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remain willing to give Senator Specter a chance to prove that he'll represent Democratic positions. If Specter doesn't satisfy me, though, I won't hesitate to vote for Representative Sestak in the primary. In fact, if Sestak had an exploratory committee set up, I'd make a modest donation today; even if Sestak doesn't end up competing in the primary, I'm happy to support his efforts to pressure Specter from the left.
May 6, 2009 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
So nice of Rendell and PA Dem Party idiots - to decide that PA Dem voters don't deserve an Open Dem Primary.
Let's tell the Party idiots that we disagree. Protest at:
June Democratic State Committee Meeting
The Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh
Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6th
May 6, 2009 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is the absolute peak of the polls and popularity for Specter. His numbers will continuosly go down unless he clearly supports and votes for the issues and interests of the democratic party and Obama. Specter will no doubt decline and his message of his interests first over the PA dems will be his downfall.
May 6, 2009 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, a million years ago, Harris Wofford was 50 points behind Dick Thornburgh. Wofford won. Pennsylvania doesn't like prohibitive favorites.
May 6, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Although you make a real good point, useing Wofford is a bad example as although he won the special election, we went on in 1994 to lost to our favorite GOP punchingbag, Rick Santorum (who is now my ex-senator thank Christ.
But yeah polls at this moment don't mean shit. First because outside Philly no one knows who Joe Sestak is. If he runs and once he gets out there touring the state, meeting the people, getting to know them, running ads. His poll numbers will go up. I can't say if high enough to beat Specter, but the number will be higher than 30 percent.
May 6, 2009 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am a Sestak fan. Have been since 2006
But a senator in the hand is worth two in the Bush
May 6, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Sestak goes for it I will contribute.
May 7, 2009 3:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Specter has put his foot in it (or in his mouth) so many times already in the short period since he switched that I think it's unlikely he'll stop. He's not a Democrat, and so expecting him to act like one isn't realistic. Harry Reid's soothing reassurances don't mean squat.
May 7, 2009 9:02 AM | Reply | Permalink