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Sestak vs. Specter?
A funny thing happened on the way to the coronation of Arlen Specter as the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat he has held for 29 years as a Republican.
Somebody forgot to tell U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak.
It has long been believed in county political circles that Sestak has higher ambitions. This was a guy who mingled – and served – with the Clintons. He was an early backer of Hillary’s presidential bid.
But when asked about any future aspirations, Sestak almost always gave the same answer: “I love my job.”
But that was before Specter voted for President Barack Obama’s controversial economic stimulus plan. His vote was crucial, without it the plan likely would have died in the Senate.
His GOP brethren were – once again – furious with the moderate Specter.
They immediately hung a bull’s eye on his chest.
Then conservative former congressman Pat Toomey – who almost killed off Specter back in 2004 – announced he would run against him in the 2010 GOP primary. And the polls said he would beat the five-term incumbent.
The poll put Toomey up 21 points.
You can call Specter a lot of things. Politically unsavvy isn’t one of them. Specter looked at the numbers and realized they didn’t add up.
Voila! Democrat Specter. While he would have been facing an uphill battle with Toomey in a GOP Primary, there are a lot of people who believe it’s just as likely Toomey does not win a general election statewide race.
Sestak watched all these developments as well. While he would have faced a tough task challenging Specter, the Toomey factor changed everything.
Suddenly Mr. “I Love My Job” morphed into Mr. “I’m mulling My Options.”
Sestak just might beat Toomey in a statewide race. But right now that’s not his problem
Now he has to figure out a way to become the Democratic nominee. And Specter is standing squarely in his path.
It’s also interesting that Sestak was an early – and big – backer of Hillary Clinton. He clearly put his eggs in that basket. But he was left with egg on his face when she lost to Barack Obama.
One of the first things Specter did after making announcing his party switch was go to the White House, where Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, the former Delaware senator and long-time train-riding buddy of Specter, welcomed him with open arms.
Gov. Ed Rendell also apparently was involved in the Specter switch.
Sestak says he never asked for party approval when he ran for the Congress and upset longtime incumbent Congressman Curt Weldon.
But at that time he was stepping into a void.
This time he’s stepping on the toes of a guy who’s spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate.
Will Sestak swim against the stream and tangle with his own party and Specter?
This time the former admiral could find himself outranked.
Somebody forgot to tell U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak.
It has long been believed in county political circles that Sestak has higher ambitions. This was a guy who mingled – and served – with the Clintons. He was an early backer of Hillary’s presidential bid.
But when asked about any future aspirations, Sestak almost always gave the same answer: “I love my job.”
But that was before Specter voted for President Barack Obama’s controversial economic stimulus plan. His vote was crucial, without it the plan likely would have died in the Senate.
His GOP brethren were – once again – furious with the moderate Specter.
They immediately hung a bull’s eye on his chest.
Then conservative former congressman Pat Toomey – who almost killed off Specter back in 2004 – announced he would run against him in the 2010 GOP primary. And the polls said he would beat the five-term incumbent.
The poll put Toomey up 21 points.
You can call Specter a lot of things. Politically unsavvy isn’t one of them. Specter looked at the numbers and realized they didn’t add up.
Voila! Democrat Specter. While he would have been facing an uphill battle with Toomey in a GOP Primary, there are a lot of people who believe it’s just as likely Toomey does not win a general election statewide race.
Sestak watched all these developments as well. While he would have faced a tough task challenging Specter, the Toomey factor changed everything.
Suddenly Mr. “I Love My Job” morphed into Mr. “I’m mulling My Options.”
Sestak just might beat Toomey in a statewide race. But right now that’s not his problem
Now he has to figure out a way to become the Democratic nominee. And Specter is standing squarely in his path.
It’s also interesting that Sestak was an early – and big – backer of Hillary Clinton. He clearly put his eggs in that basket. But he was left with egg on his face when she lost to Barack Obama.
One of the first things Specter did after making announcing his party switch was go to the White House, where Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, the former Delaware senator and long-time train-riding buddy of Specter, welcomed him with open arms.
Gov. Ed Rendell also apparently was involved in the Specter switch.
Sestak says he never asked for party approval when he ran for the Congress and upset longtime incumbent Congressman Curt Weldon.
But at that time he was stepping into a void.
This time he’s stepping on the toes of a guy who’s spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate.
Will Sestak swim against the stream and tangle with his own party and Specter?
This time the former admiral could find himself outranked.
posted by Heron's Nest at
1:17 PM
1 Comments:
Phil-
Sestak keeps complaining that Specter is being "blessed" by the party leadership and the voters aren't getting a chance to pick a candidate in the Primary.
You wrote: Sestak says he never asked for party approval when he ran for the Congress and upset longtime incumbent Congressman Curt Weldon.However, this was EXACTLY how Sestak got in 3 years ago.
Could YOU please call him on this?
From Bill Bender's Feb 10, 2006 article in the Delco Times:
Delaware County Democrats are lining up behind retired Navy Vice Adm. Joseph A. Sestak Jr. after Gov. Ed Rendell asked Sestak 's likely primary opponent to abandon his run for U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon's seat in the 7th Congressional District.
Iraq war veteran Bryan Lentz said Thursday that he will not seek the Democratic congressional nomination in May, but will launch a campaign against state Rep. Thomas Gannon, R-161, of Ridley Township.
The move was brokered by Rendell and will avoid a potentially bloody Democratic primary between the two military veterans. Haverford Democrat Paul Scoles , who ran against Weldon in 2004, backed out last week and threw his support behind Sestak .
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