Poll: Pennsylvania Democrats Hunger For Senate Primary
In our Friday interview, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) called into question the idea that Pennsylvania Democrats will be automatically loyal to Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) just because he's the de facto incumbent. "Does that automatically buy loyalty--because you changed an R to a D--from those within the party?" Sestak asked, rhetorically.
"Well actually it appeared to do so within the wash political establishment, which was quite disturbing, but I think that's a long haul from where Pennsylvanians will be."
And, as it turns out, a new poll (PDF) suggests there's some evidence for this claim.
As you may know, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter recently switched from Republican to Democrat. Should Arlen Specter be the Democratic nominee for the 2010 election for US Senate or should he face a challenge from one or more other Democrats in the primary?
- Specter should be nominee 28%
- Specter should face challenge 63%
- Undecided 32 09%
This comes via Greg Sargent--and, presumably, as good news for the nascent Sestak campaign. Other recent polls show Specter with a sizable lead over the relatively unknown Sestak, but this new poll shows a hunger for a primary challenge on general principle.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Arlen is one of those GM '70s hoopties, careening first to the left (to suit general voters), then to the right (to suit primary voters), and back to the middle again, having hit a right wing guardrail.
All he needs is a little wind, pushing him to the left, and his sociopathic steering will drive him to create an enviable Democratic record. Sestak is like a hurricane, a Younger vehicle.
June 2, 2009 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter is not a Democrat, never has been. He is an ex-Republican. Therefore there is no obligation for the party to donate the Democratic nomination to him. Fairly simple.
June 2, 2009 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually he was a Dem before he was a Repub.
June 2, 2009 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The good people of PA nned a true loyal democrat and not the likes Snarlin Spector to represent them into the future. I hope the grassroots is alive and well in PA and I plan to contribute to the Rep. Joe Sestak campaign.
June 2, 2009 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please make sure to contribute directly to Sestak's campaign. The DNC and DSCC are not getting a penny of my money, and won't again until they stop considering themselves to be King Makers. (hint: Lamont vs. Lieberman in '06)
Grassroots are alive and well and not supporting Specter here in PA.
PEACE
June 2, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Despite being a hawk, Lieberman had been a loyal Democrat all of his life so it made sense that the party would back him.
Specter, on the other hand, has been a loyal Republican all of his life and ONLY switched because he couldn't win as a Republican. He voted against the president's budget, made it clear on MTP that he will "not be a loyal Democrat" and then said he wanted Norm Coleman to win in MN. There is NO reason to back this asshole.
June 2, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't disagree with what you said about Lieberman and his lifetime of loyalty to the Democratic Party, just that after the voters in CT had picked their candidate, the Party establishment refused to honor the voice of the people.
Specter is opportunistic and selfish and the voters here will not be fooled. Toomey doesn't stand a chance of getting elected, so why stick with Specter instead of finding a real Democrat to serve as our second senator?
PEACE
June 2, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, that's not true. The DNC backed Lieberman in the primray against Lamont. But when he was defeated, they backed Lamont, as they should have.
June 2, 2009 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe it's just me, but it seems as if the federal government is as outdated in too many respects as GM. And Congress gives too much credit to seniority, rather than to merit and expertise.
When 'seniority' produces 'Ted Stevens' in control of Commerce, you figure that the institutional problems are really, really serious.
I hope Sestak runs and cleans the clock of the party Dems who think they can anoint an almost-80 year old, who happens to be the same guy that helped up Alito and Roberts on SCOTUS. Specter isn't a terrible person, but it's not 1988 anymore.
If Sestak wins, I hope he starts cleaning up that DC mess called the 'seniority' system. When 'seniority' is code for 'senility and gridlock', it really needs to go the way of the souped-up, overpriced, gas hogs that are also now a thing of the past. They were great for the 60s, but their time is long gone and we need new approaches -- and Congress definitely needs to incentivize smarts, merit, and productivity rather than 'seniority'.
Best of luck to Sestak!
June 2, 2009 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I take Specter at his word (I know, ludicrous) when he says he will not be a loyal democrat. It is time these professional incumbents listen to the voters, not other professional politicians and lobbyists. Specter did not like his old set of voters any more so he picked a new set, who were immediately told "don't be ingrates, we decided this man deserves to be Senator for life, send him back to Washington."
Well, it's "Time for Change". Remember that one?
Time for you to think about it too, Baucus. Those town meetings seem to be backfiring
June 2, 2009 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
really flogging this issue eh?
June 2, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
By backing Specter, Obama has effectively removed any opposition to the eventual Democratic candidate.
Had Specter ran as a Republican, there would have been a sizable turnout for the primary due to the extra media coverage always given to a story with "conflict" (the fight to control the GOP.) With the conflict moving to the other side, chances are the Republicans will attract little turnout in either the primary, or the general election.
With daily reports about the fight between the "olde gaurd" Dems and Sestak (who is neither a real progressive, nor a member of the status quo,) he comes off looking like the candidate of CHANGE (tm) by comparison to Specter (who Pennsylvania Dems have grown to love to hate) when really he is just owed a chit by Hillary (and the DLC) for his backing her in the '08 primaries.
In the meantime, Specter has to support Obama's legislation or he stands to lose the president's support.
Game, set, and match to CORPORATE DEMOCRATS, however, since Sestak has always been a card carrying member of the DLC. As always, it seems, PROGRESSIVE Democrats are left without even an opportunity to be represented or voice their opinions.
Ahh... democracy.
June 2, 2009 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing keeping a more progressive Dem out of the primary is balls.
Sestak is running despite being told not to. If a "real progressive" doesn't run, you can't blame that on anybody else.
June 2, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a fairly highly placed Pa Dem, I've posted this fact at least ten times since he switched. Specter needs to sign in blood to Dem values to get me to lift a finger for him.
June 2, 2009 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well the only problem with him signing in blood is that I am sure it will be someone elses blood not his own....and there in lies the rub.
June 3, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please keep flogging this race. If Arlen is going to be annointed by King Obama and the DLCers without any conditions, this story needs to be pushed. The DLCers, led by Obama are trying to get another Lieberman in the Senate, as opposed to the person that Democrats would vote for.
I think it is becoming more and more clear to me that top Democrats care more about ensuring roadblocks to their agenda than making actual changes. Politicians LOVE to have these fall backs, so that they can never take the blame for their failures.
We can't stop funding the War, can't pass a big enough stimulus, can't raise taxes on the rich, can't get out of Iraq, can't close Gitmo, can't prosecute war criminals, can't get single payer healthcare, can't get a public option, can't pass EFCA, can't end war on drugs, can't improve public schools, can't cut the military budget, can't stop the war on drugs, can't redo our trade agreements, can't repeal DADT. None of these are actual priorities of Obama, Pelosi, or Reid.
In order to obscure that fact, they say "we don't have 60 votes", yet do nothing to push for Franken to be seated ASAP. They complain about the blue dogs, yet give them money, and support them in primaries vs. progressives.
This way, they can pretend to care about progressive causes in the runnup to elections, yet never actually follow through on any of their empty promises.
It is similar to Republicans never dreaming of actually repealing Roe v Wade, because that would kill one of their greatest campaign lines.
Obama, Pelosi, DLCers, and Reid all want to keep Arlen, so that they don't have to do what they promise, and it won't be their fault.
June 2, 2009 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
@smurph2 @Freerider I grew up about an hour from the Specters' home & have despised him all my life. But why rewrite history? He was a Democrat until 1965.
June 2, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
So which way is the wind blowing in Pennsylvania today near Arlens house?
June 3, 2009 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink