2010 elections

Feingold, Specter To Teach law

Eric Kleefeld | January 6, 2011, 12:41PM

Former Sens. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Two former U.S Senators who lost their seats in 2010 are landing on their feet -- they can no longer make the law, but they will now teach it in their home states.

Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), who was defeated in November by Republican Ron Johnson, is now going to be a visiting law professor at Marquette University. As the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:

"I'm really excited about trying out some new things," the former Democratic senator said in an interview Wednesday, speaking in some detail about his future for the first time since he was defeated by Republican Ron Johnson in November. "I'm going to be very, very happy to be in Wisconsin almost full-time for the first time in many, many years."

It makes a lot of sense that Feingold would become a law professor back home, given the support he long enjoyed from students. Also, all those ethics laws he passed would probably make it hard for him ever get a job on K Street.

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2010 elections

TPM Approves These Messages: Five Great Ads Of 2010 (VIDEOS)

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2010, 3:07PM

With the year 2010 coming to a close, and a truly raucous election season behind us (and another set to begin), let's take a look at a real highlight of the cycle: A sampling, even just a small one, of some great campaign ads we got to see over the past year.

Unlike some of our other lists, we're not talking about a mix of great ads and awful ones that took on a kitsch value. (I'm looking in your direction, "I'm not a witch. I'm you," and also at you, "Aqua Buddha.")

No, here we're talking about truly great ads that applied ingenuity, creativity and pure guts to an election. We're talking about the ones whose creators deserve accolades and good spots on campaigns for 2012 -- and might just get them.

So get out your popcorn and your New Year's alcohol, and watch our five picks.

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2010 elections

The Goodbyes Of 2010: Politicians Who Are Going Home

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2010, 1:52PM

Russ Feingold

As the year 2010 comes to a close and the year 2011 begins, it's time to look back on some of the politicians who are leaving office because of defeat, retirement, or the strange spaces that seem to fall in between.

These are folks who had a presence on the political scene, either long or short, but who have made their marks in different ways on the political consciousness in their arrivals, their service and their ultimate departures.

As is the fashion with these sorts of lists we do around here, the folks we've chosen to highlight include the folks that we and you, our readers, think of as being great -- and others who are so bad that they're good. Of course, there are plenty of departing pols who aren't here. This is just a sampling.

So goodbye to 2010, and goodbye to these politicians. But who knows, perhaps we'll be seeing some of them again, soon.

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PA-SEN

Sestak Surging From Behind (Again) -- Will It Be Enough?

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2010, 8:30AM

PA-SEN Candidate Joe Sestak (D)

Something very odd is happening in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Just two weeks ago or so, Republican former Rep. Pat Toomey seemed the odds-on favorite to pick up the open seat of Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter, who had lost his Dem primary to Rep. Joe Sestak in a revolt against Specter's party-switch. This would have quickly returned the seat to GOP hands, after Specter's nearly 30 years as a Republican Senator were interrupted by his party switch. But suddenly, there's a real race again.

Right after the Democratic primary, Sestak enjoyed an initial bump, and took the lead against Toomey. But then various factors set in -- notably the general Republican gains in the polls around the country, and Sestak having to awkwardly deal with questions about an attempted job offer from the White House to get him out of his Dem primary challenge against Specter.

Soon Sestak and Toomey began to tie, and then tie some more. Soon enough, Toomey took a definite lead, and held it throughout much of the summer and early fall.

But now that's all beginning to change.

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PA-SEN

Arlen Specter Too Busy Playing Squash To Discuss Sestak's Senate Chances

Christina Bellantoni | September 20, 2010, 5:31PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

The Republicans might have some fun with the pool report just out from President Obama's trip to Pennsylvania to help raise money for Rep. Joe Sestak's Senate bid and the Democratic party.

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) was there to greet Air Force One when Obama landed. A pool reporter grabbed Specter on the tarmac.

"How do you think Congressman Sestak is doing with his campaign?" asked Politico's White House reporter Carol Lee.

Specter paused for 5 seconds, then answered: "I'm late for the squash court so I'm gonna defer that to when I can answer in one spot."

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Mike Castle

Tea Party: Mike Castle Is Just Another Arlen Specter

Brian Beutler | August 19, 2010, 1:00PM

Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) and Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-DE)

To the Tea Party, a vote for Delaware Senate hopeful Mike Castle (R) is a vote for a Democrat. Literally. Conservatives there are warning fellow tea partiers that if Castle gets elected, he'll pull an Arlen Specter and switch parties when the going gets tough. So they're endorsing his primary rival, Christine O'Donnell, instead.

"We are confident Christine O'Donnell will beat Mike Castle in the upcoming primary," , Delaware Vice President of the Independence Hall Tea Party PAC. "Christine is a strong grassroots favorite. While her opponent has the support of establishment types, Christine has the support of the people."

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Supreme Court vacancy

Specter Backing Kagan: SCOTUS Nominee Clears Biggest Dem Hurdle

Christina Bellantoni | July 15, 2010, 9:54AM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan

Sen. Arlen Specter was a wild card when it came to Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court, but today said he'll support her even though the confirmation hearings this month were a "charade." It's a change of heart for Specter, who voted against her February 2009 nomination to the solicitor general post when he was still a Republican. He was the most likely Democrat to oppose her, but Specter's support clears the way for a smooth confirmation vote next week in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Specter (D-PA) announced today that Kagan did "just enough" to win him over.

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Supreme Court vacancy

Grilling Ms. Kagan -- The 7 Toughest Questioners At SCOTUS Hearings (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | July 1, 2010, 5:47PM

(Clockwise from top left) Senators Arlen Specter (D-PA), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) question Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan (center, inset).

It wasn't quite a supreme grilling, but some of the Judiciary Committee's members were surprisingly tough on Solicitor General Elena Kagan this week. Although at first the Republicans spent their time deriding Thurgood Marshall as a so-called "activist judge," by day three they took up all the hot button social issues they had largely ignored in the first round of questions.

Since Kagan's testimony is complete -- Chairman Pat Leahy told her it was "The last time you'll ever have to be in a public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee." -- TPM rounded up the toughest questioners. They might just surprise you, since some Democrats gave Kagan as hard a time as their colleagues across the aisle.

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Elena Kagan

Last Justice Standing: Kagan's Five Funniest Moments On Tuesday

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 30, 2010, 9:16AM

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is a funny lady. Facing a somewhat skeptical Republican contingent on the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, Kagan slayed 'em in the aisles with a nearly nonstop stream of sarcasm and wit.

There were a lot of important issues discussed yesterday, and a lot of digging into Kagan's legal philosophy. But the main takeaway from the first day of questions and answers for Kagan was the nominee's ability to knock 'em dead.

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PA-SEN

Sestak: 'I Said No' When Clinton Offered

Christina Bellantoni | May 28, 2010, 1:09PM

Former President Bill Clinton and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Shortly after the White House released a memo in an attempt to diffuse the dust-up over claims there was a quid pro quo to influence the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary, Rep. Joe Sestak is confirming the administration's account.

The nominee's statement includes the first real details Sestak (D-PA) has offered since first acknowledging there was an offer, an issue which heated up since he won the May 18 primary over Sen. Arlen Specter.

Sestak said he was called last summer by President Clinton, who "expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background." Sestak said that during the call, which the White House said was in June and July, Clinton relayed a message from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel there was interest in Sestak serving on a presidential board.

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2010 elections

White House: Sestak Allegations 'Lack Basis In The Law'

Christina Bellantoni | May 28, 2010, 11:31AM

President Barack Obama and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

President Obama's White House has released its report into accusations that the administration offered Rep. Joe Sestak a job if he would drop out of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary against Sen. Arlen Specter.

"We have concluded that allegations of improper conduct rest on factual errors and lack a basis in the law," White House counsel Bob Bauer wrote in a 2-page memo released to reporters this morning. Read the memo in full here.

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Financial Reform

Vote To End Debate On Financial Reform Falls Short In Senate

Ben Frumin | May 19, 2010, 4:38PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

Senate Democrats failed this afternoon to get the 60 votes they needed to end debate on the financial reform bill.

Two Republicans crossed the aisle and voted with the Democrats. But with multiple Democrats voting against cloture, and another absent, the Democrats fell just short. The final vote was 57-42.

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PA-SEN

Worried Rendell To TPMDC: Pa. Senate Race A 'Tossup'

Christina Bellantoni | May 19, 2010, 2:00AM

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA)

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said in an interview that Sen. Arlen Specter was defeated by Rep. Joe Sestak in the Democratic Senate primary because voters "misunderstood" Specter's reasons for switching parties after four decades as a Republican. He already has endorsed Sestak and said he isn't worried the Democratic party will take long to heal any primary wounds, but sounded downright worried about whether Democrats can keep the seat in a general election matchup with former Rep. Pat Toomey.

"No one can replace Arlen right away but hopefully Congressman Sestak or Congressman Toomey can grow in the job," Rendell (D-PA) told me in an interview after midnight as he drove home from an election night event. "Joe has a real chance to win but it's at best a tossup."

The TPM Poll Average of this race -- based on polls taken before Tuesday's primary -- shows Toomey leading 39.1 percent to 35.4 percent for Sestak.

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2010 elections

Sestak Claims Victory While Thanking Specter: 'He Has Done Good Things For Pa.' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | May 18, 2010, 11:09PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Rep. Joe Sestak claimed victory tonight over Sen. Arlen Specter, saying his primary rival for the Democratic Senate nomination has a "legacy to be proud of." Sestak (D-PA) defeated the 30-year incumbent with 54 percent of the vote with 87 percent of precincts reporting.

Sestak thanked Specter for his service and said he "has done good things for Pennsylvania." Specter earlier tonight tweeted that he endorsed Sestak in the general election matchup against Republican Pat Toomey. He said in his victory speech that the election was about voters who "stood up and wanted diverse voices heard."

"This is what democracy looks like," said Sestak, a retired Navy admiral who served in the Clinton White House. With his sleeves rolled up, he said it was a victory over the "establishment" and "status quo" in Washington, a pointed reference to the party machine that campaigned hard for Specter up to the last minute tonight. Sestak said he was willing to "stand up" to his own party. President Obama's robocalls for Specter were still being heard this afternoon.

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Arlen Specter

Specter Concedes In PA-SEN Democratic Primary (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | May 18, 2010, 10:52PM

After a heated race against Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) conceded defeat tonight in the Democratic Pennsylvania Senate primary.

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PA-SEN

Sestak Defeats Specter For Democratic Nod In Pa.

Christina Bellantoni | May 18, 2010, 10:17PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Updated at 11:44 ET

Rep. Joe Sestak has defeated Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania's Democratic primary for the Senate seat Specter held as a Republican for nearly three decades, an upset reinforcing that this fall might be a tough slog for incumbents. Sestak was leading Specter with 54 percent of the vote to Specter's 46 percent. There were 95 percent of precincts reporting and Specter conceded after several news outlets called the race. Sestak will face Republican Pat Toomey in November.

Specter, 80, has been a key ally of President Obama's White House since being one of just three Republicans to back the $787 billion economic stimulus plan in February 2009. Ironically, that's the vote that started to seriously harm his political chances as more and more Republicans defected to Toomey. He switched parties on April 28, 2009, declaring he'd looked at his "bleak" poll numbers and wanted to remain in office. "I am not prepared to have my 29-year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate," Specter said then. He said he wouldn't be a rubber stamp 60th vote, but became a reliable supporter of the Democrats' agenda including health care reform.

But for all of his support from Obama, Gov. Ed Rendell and the battleground state's powerful Democratic machine, Specter was haunted by his past relationship with former President George W. Bush. Sestak ran a tough ad showing Specter and Bush side-by-side, and his team banked on Democrats having long memories that they'd been voting against Specter for years.

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PA-SEN

Rendell On Rain: 'Not Good' For Specter

Christina Bellantoni | May 18, 2010, 6:34PM

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA)

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) told me a few hours before the polls close in the Democratic primary election that the weather isn't helping Sen. Arlen Specter as he fights to keep his seat.

"The weather is a blow to him," Rendell told me in an interview. "Senator Specter does better the more Democrats come out and vote and the rain all over the state today is not good for him." Rendell is backing Specter, who became a Democrat last spring with a promise from the White House to help him win reelection. Earlier today, Rendell said Specter would be fine since the campaign was handing out personalized ponchos to voters.

Specter said on MSNBC tonight that he needs his voters to get to the polls before they close at 8 p.m., urging each of his constituencies to turn out. "If I get out my vote, Chris, I win," Specter told Chris Matthews.

Additional reporting by Lucy Madison

PA-SEN

Pennsylvania By Region: Where Specter And Sestak Each Need To Win Big

Eric Kleefeld | May 18, 2010, 5:24PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

With tonight's big Democratic Senate primary between Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak coming down to the wire, what areas and key indicators should we look out for as the returns start to come in?

In advance of the election tonight, we spoke with Terry Madonna, the well-known political science professor and analyst at Franklin & Marshall College, who said laid out for us the key places each candidate will have to turn out the vote to win. "Well, everyone i've talked to is clearly on pins and needles about the outcome," said Madonna. "You really need to have a sense about turnout by region. And some regions are more important than others. I mean, 38% of the Democratic vote is within five counties in the southeastern part of the state."

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Harry Reid

Reid On PA-SEN: 'We Have Two Good Candidates Up There'

Jillian Rayfield | May 18, 2010, 4:17PM

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

In a press conference this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) demurred a bit on Sen. Arlen Specter's (D-PA) chances to win today's Democratic primary in Pennsylvania against Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA).

"As far as Pennsylvania," said Reid, "we have two good candidates up there."

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PA-SEN

Sestak On MSNBC: Did I Mention Arlen Specter Supported Bush?

Ben Frumin | May 18, 2010, 2:07PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) took his turn on MSNBC moments after Andrea Mitchell interviewed Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) today, and took the opportunity -- again and again -- to try and link Specter with former President George W. Bush.

"I'm a Democrat out of core beliefs and core convictions," Sestak said, adding that Specter voted with Democrats only 23 percent of the time during Bush's presidency.

"I wish he had stood tall against George Bush much more often than 23 percent of the time."

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PA-SEN

Specter To Andrea Mitchell: Sestak More Vigorous Than Me? What Are You Smoking? (VIDEO)

Ben Frumin | May 18, 2010, 1:48PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), who's facing a tough Democratic Senate primary race in Pennsylvania today against Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), vigorously defended his, er, vigor during an interview this afternoon on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell.

"When you talk about Sestak being more vigorous, you must be smoking dutch cleanser," Specter told Mitchell.

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PA-SEN

Cornyn: Specter Doesn't Care Which Party He's In (VIDEO)

Ben Frumin | May 18, 2010, 11:33AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said on CNN last night that his former fellow Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, now a Democrat in a tough primary fight in Pennsylvania, "doesn't seem to have a particular orientation for one party or the other -- just his political survival."

"Arlen said he was switching parties because he couldn't win in the Republican primary -- for no other reason," Cornyn said. "And I think he's having a hard time finding a way to appeal to Democrats, because frankly he doesn't seem to have particular orientation for one party or the other -- just his political survival."

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2010 elections

Super Duper Tuesday With Sprinkles: Previewing The Big Primaries

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 17, 2010, 7:40PM

From top left: KY Republican Rand Paul, KY Republican Trey Grayson, PA Democrat Arlen Specter, AR Democrat Bill Halter, PA Democrat Joe Sestak and AR Democrat Blanche Lincoln

This is the day we've been waiting for. By the end of Tuesday night, we'll know if Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) could still have a job next year, if angry progressives are a threat and if the tea partiers will hand Mitch McConnell a defeat in his home state.

It's 2010's first Super Tuesday -- and the political landscape could look much different when all is said and done.

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PA-SEN

Sestak Cites Massachusetts Senate Upset In Last Minute Campaigning

Christina Bellantoni | May 17, 2010, 6:40PM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Rep. Joe Sestak said he learned an important lesson from the Massachusetts special election that resulted in Sen. Scott Brown taking over a seat held by the Democrats for a generation, and he's sounding pretty confident that voters may reach the same conclusion and nominate him on Tuesday.

"Massachusetts said it best, 'A pox on both your houses.' They voted for change in politics," Sestak told me in an interview tonight on the eve of Pennsylvania's Democratic primary Tuesday. Sestak peppers his political talk with critiques of Sen. Arlen Specter's long record as a Republican using language you'd expect from a retired Navy admiral. "When you run a ship aground you're relieved for cause," Sestak said.

He maintains he's the better general election candidate to keep the seat for the Democrats this fall, saying that since he's running against the party establishment voters will reward him as an independent voice should he win the nomination. The TPM Poll Average of this race has Sestak in the lead with 45.3 percent and Specter with 42.6 percent.

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NRSC

National GOP: Tuesday's Primaries Show That Obama is Weak (No Matter What)

Eric Kleefeld | May 17, 2010, 6:08PM

President Barack Obama

The national GOP is already spinning tomorrow's Democratic primaries as a defeat for President Obama -- that even if Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) win against their intra-party challengers, the fact that there have been close races at all show that Obama is in political trouble.

In an e-mail sent out to reporters by National Republican Senatorial Committee Executive Director Rob Jesmer, much light is made of news reports saying that Obama did not want to be seen campaigning for Specter, who could potentially lose tomorrow:

But the fact that the President of the United States and the most popular member of the Democratic Party sees serious political risk in publicly campaigning for a Democratic Senator, in a Democratic primary, and in a key swing state, speaks volumes. At best the White House political operation will narrowly win two Democratic primaries tomorrow, at worst they lost both after being heavily involved at the outset. It should raise serious questions in the minds of Democratic Senate candidates whether the President and the Democrats' Washington agenda will be a benefit or a detriment to their campaigns this November. Recent history and current polling suggests strongly that it will be the latter.

The full memo is after the jump.

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2010 elections

Obama Records Robocalls For Specter And Lincoln (AUDIO)

Eric Kleefeld | May 17, 2010, 5:47PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), President Barack Obama and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

President Obama hasn't hit the campaign trail for Sens. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in their contentious Democratic primaries tomorrow -- but he has recorded some robocalls to get out the vote for them.

A reader in Pennsylvania sent us an excerpt of a robocall that Obama recorded for Specter, and the authenticity of the call was confirmed to us by the Specter campaign, who told us that it has gone out to 100,000 homes in the state.

In the call, Obama talks about everything Specter has done to advance the Democratic agenda, starting with the stimulus bill last year -- a key point for a former Republican who is having trouble winning the trust of his new party's voters. Obama credits Specter with "...casting the deciding vote for our Recovery Act, and fought hard to provide affordable health insurance for 1.3 million Pennsylvanians. Vice President Joe Biden and I need Arlen Specter in the Senate, fighting alongside us. Please cast your vote on May 18th for the man who has a proven track record of delivering for Pennsylvanians -- your Democratic Senator Arlen Specter."

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PA-SEN

Plouffe Sends Email Calling Specter Key Obama Ally

Christina Bellantoni | May 17, 2010, 4:23PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and David Plouffe

The mastermind of the 2008 Obama campaign David Plouffe today is making a last-minute push for Sen. Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, asking the most loyal of President Obama's supporters to help the struggling senator prevail in tomorrow's primary election.

"President Obama is committed to seeing Senator Specter re-elected. Whenever he has needed a crucial vote for a top priority, Arlen Specter has been there for our President and this movement," Plouffe wrote in an email that will be sent today by the Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America and obtained by TPMDC.

Plouffe was the campaign manager for Obama and has been a special adviser to the president ever since. The White House had him take on a more visible role this winter following the loss of Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts.

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PA-SEN

Toomey: I Don't Care Whether I Face Sestak Or Specter In The General Election

Ben Frumin | May 17, 2010, 1:24PM

Republican candidate for PA-Senate Pat Toomey

Former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-PA) says he doesn't care which Democrat wins tomorrow's Senate primary in Pennsylvania.

"I'll be ready for either one," Toomey said on MSNBC today.

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PA-SEN

With Specter Suffering, White House And GOP Looking At Surging Sestak

Christina Bellantoni | May 17, 2010, 1:18PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

When a brutal television ad hit the airwaves starring Sen. Arlen Specter and his then-ally President George W. Bush, the incumbent Republican-turned-Democrat did little to defend against it. How could he, when it used footage of his own words from his days as a Republican?

With voter opinions of the longtime politician already formed, the ad helped drive home a reminder for Democrats -- they'd been voting against Specter for decades. That allowed Rep. Joe Sestak in the weeks since putting the Bush ad on the air to surge to the lead before tomorrow's still too-close-to-call Democratic primary race.

Republicans and Democrats say they started to think Specter was toast in early May, when Sestak went up on television with what they described as a "just brutal" campaign ad starring Bush. Specter countered with an ad starring President Obama, who won the state in 2008, but did not mount an aggressive defense against his own party-switching.

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PA-SEN

Gov. Rendell: No Guarantees In PA-SEN (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | May 17, 2010, 11:22AM

Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA), a strong supporter of Arlen Specter in the heated Pennsylvania Senate race, said today that there are no guarantees that Specter will win the Democratic primary against Rep. Joe Sestak tomorrow.

The TPM Poll Average shows Sestak leading Specter 45.3% to 43.4%. Sestak's been making gains in recent weeks, while Specter's poll numbers have remained relatively steady.

Read more »

PA-SEN

Quinnipiac Poll: Tuesday's Dem PA-Sen Primary Still Too Close To Call

Ben Frumin | May 17, 2010, 8:07AM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Tomorrow's Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania still looks too close to call.

A Quinnipiac poll released this morning shows Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) leading Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) 42-41. Sixteen percent of likely primary voters are still undecided -- and 25% of those who do back a candidate might still change their minds, the poll found.

Read more »

PA-SEN

Specter's New Line Of Attack: The NRA Hates Joe Sestak

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 16, 2010, 2:56PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Sen. Arlen Specter is stepping up his attacks on Rep. Joe Sestak in the final days of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary, targeting Sestak over gun control. As Greg Sargent reports, Specter is highlighting his vote against the assault weapons ban in the 90s and calling Sestak out for his "F" rating from the NRA.

The ads are running on the websites of local papers in rural Pennsylvania, away from the eyes of the key Democratic voters in the cities that might not find the ads a persuasive message for Specter.

"One wonders how this ad would play among urban Dems in Philadelphia," Sargent writes. "If they ever were to hear about it."

Read more »

PA-SEN

Sestak, Specter Make Closing Arguments On CNN

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 16, 2010, 9:49AM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

Rep. Joe Sestak and Sen. Arlen Specter appeared on CNN's State Of The Union this morning, just two days before voters head to the polls in the hotly contested Pennsylvania Democratic Senate Primary. In back-to-back interviews, the pair repeated the jabs and barbs they've been trading for weeks. But there was some evidence of what each man sees as his vulnerabilities heading into Tuesday -- Sestak continued to be defensive about his military records, while Specter was eager to talk up his Democratic party bona fides.

"On the big issues, I voted more with the Democrats than with the Republicans," Specter told CNN's Candy Crowley when she asked him answer accusations that his party switch was a cynical act of political expediency. Specter, stinging from Sestak's attacks over his vote against Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan when she was nominated as the Obama Administration's Solicitor General, tried to highlight the times he stood with the left on the Supreme Court nomination process.

"Take the Bork confirmation hearings," Specter said, attempting to show his connection with Democrats. "It would be a different Supreme Court had Bork been confirmed and I led the fight to defeat him."

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | May 14, 2010, 4:50PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

• CNN, State Of The Union: Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT).

• Fox News Sunday: Former First Lady Laura Bush, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

PA-SEN

Bob Casey Records Radio Ad For Specter (AUDIO)

Eric Kleefeld | May 14, 2010, 3:50PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) has recorded a radio for ad Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), targeting voters in the western Pennsylvania area of Cambria County (Johnstown) in Specter's tough primary fight against Rep. Joe Sestak.

Casey touts his and Specter's frequent visits to the county, and the federal funding they have brought home for the area: "I'm Sen. Bob Casey, and I"m proud to endorse Arlen Specter, because he doesn't just work for Cambria County -- he delivers."

The TPM Poll Average for this primary gives Sestak an edge of 44.3%-43.0%, after Sestak picked up undecided voters over the last two and a half months.

Read more »

PA-SEN

Specter And Sestak Hit The Campaign Trail In Philly

Eric Kleefeld | May 14, 2010, 3:05PM

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and his primary challenger Rep. Joe Sestak both went stumping for votes today in vote-rich Philadelphia -- where Specter needs a big turnout and a solid margin in his favor in order to win on Tuesday.

Specter was endorsed by a group of ministers from the Philadelphia Black Clergy. "I'm very grateful for the overwhelming support from the Black Clergy," said Specter, also adding: "There is no doubt if we turn out our vote, I will be re-elected."

Specter also rebutted Sestak's accusation that he only switched parties for opportunistic reasons -- citing his vote for the stimulus bill and the damage that it did to him among Republicans, and saying that he could have voted against the stimulus instead. "If I had stayed with the obstructionist Republican caucus, I would have had no problem," Specter said. "This claim of opportunism is outlandish in the context that I had a clear path to re-election if I had not voted for the stimulus package."

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PA-SEN

If Sestak Beats Specter He'll Have Bush To Thank

Christina Bellantoni | May 14, 2010, 1:04PM

Former President George W. Bush and Arlen Specter

Tuesday's Democratic primary election in Pennsylvania remains a tossup in the final stretch, but if Rep. Joe Sestak pulls it off and defeats Sen. Arlen Specter, it will be thanks in part to his advertising strategy.

The state's voters at first didn't know Sestak, who has been viewed as the scrappy challenger to the longtime moderate senator since Specter defected from the Republican party in Spring 2009. While support for Specter has held steady for months in voter polls, Sestak started creeping up right about the time both candidates went on television. People on the ground in Pennsylvania think it's the Sestak attack ad that repeatedly links Specter to former President George W. Bush that was the most effective.

The ad -- which Sestak has spent at least $1.5 million running, a source tells me -- was described by one TPM reader as "devastating." It tries to paint Specter as a political opportunist who only switched parties to save himself. The Bush images and Specter quotes from just a few years ago serve to remind voters of his Republican loyalties and helped to drive up Specter's negatives which were already high from years of serving the state, one top Pennsylvania journalist told me.

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PA-SEN

MoveOn Endorses Sestak Against Specter

Eric Kleefeld | May 14, 2010, 11:35AM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA)

The liberal group MoveOn has endorsed Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) in his primary challenge against incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, with Sestak taking 67% in a vote of MoveOn members in Pennsylvania.

From MoveOn's announcement:

Sel from State College told us that "Sestak not only has a better chance of winning in the fall, but he's a Democrat out of conviction, not desperation." Grant from Media said "I live in Sestak's district. He's been sensational as a Congressman." On the other hand, Christine from Meadville worries that "Arlen Specter is an opportunist and cannot be trusted to side with the Democrats."

Joe Sestak has a strong record in Congress, supporting health care reform, clean energy, and a woman's right to choose. If he wins the primary on Tuesday, it'll send a powerful message that voters want Democrats in Congress who'll proudly lead the fight for progressive legislation.

(Emphasis in the original.)

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PA-SEN

Poll: Sestak Takes Two-Point Lead Over Specter

Eric Kleefeld | May 14, 2010, 11:23AM

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary gives Rep. Joe Sestak a narrow lead over incumbent Dem Senator and ex-Republican Arlen Specter, with the election coming up this Tuesday.

The numbers: Sestak 45%, Specter 43%. The poll of likely Dem primary voters has a ±5% margin of error. Two months ago, Specter led by a healthy 51%-32% advantage. The TPM Poll Average now gives Sestak a lead of 44.3%-43.0% -- the first time ever that Sestak has led in this measurement.

In addition, the poll has Republican former Rep. Pat Toomey leading Specter by 49%-41% in a general election, and leading Sestak by 45%-40%. The TPM Poll Average gives Toomey a lead over Specter of 45.6%-38.8%, and a lead over Sestak of 39.1%-35.4%.

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