The First Read — All Things Arlen Edition

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Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

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A day—and a decision—that transformed the political landscape
When the sun rose Tuesday morning, all was well. The Democratic Senate primary was a snoozer. Everyone was talking about President Obama’s hundred days. And Arlen Specter was the state’s Republican senior Senator, a reliable GOP vote even if he ticked off the conservative base from time to time. What a difference a day makes. Read More

A primary preview? Sestak hits Specter
Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) said Tuesday night he still hadn’t made up his mind about a Senate run. But in a series of attack lines about Arlen Specter, he offered a peek at the kind of message he could use against the newly-Democratic Senator in a primary. Read More

Biden spoke with Specter 14 times
In the Democratic Party’s courtship of Arlen Specter, no one may have played a bigger role than Vice President Joe Biden. Read More

Specter the survivor had no choice
In a Voices piece, former Inquirer columnist Tom Ferrick says that political reality forced the Senator’s hand. Read More

Specter condemned colleague’s party switch in 2001
An internal memo shows the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee listing Doug Pike as one of its early favorites for the 6th District. Read More

A Democratic primary field, reshuffled and then some
The Democratic primary for Senate was looking so simple. Candidates were hesitant to jump in, afraid of facing Senator Arlen Specter in the general election. It was a mostly level playing filed, at least financially. No more. Read More

Specter bolts: Run, Jack, run!
In an editorial, The Tribune-Review tries to goad Auditor General Jack Wagner into the race. Read More

Dem party chairman welcomes Specter
“We’re prepared to work hard on his behalf, as he’s worked hard on our behalf for so many years.” Read More

Specter’s first party switch
Back in 1965 when he was a relatively unknown prosecutor in the Philadelphia district attorney’s office working under a Democratic D.A.—and registered as a Democrat himself—Specter ran for the office’s top spot on the Republican ticket. Read More

The ties that bind Torsella and Specter
Arlen Specter and Joe Torsella may be headed for a bruising primary battle, but they have a long and—to this point—friendly history. In fact, each has hired the other’s wife. Read More

Paging Tom Ridge?
The moderate-to-liberal David Brooks-reading Republicans who form the core of the Pennsylvania GOP establishment aren’t about to hand over their U.S. Senate nomination to the conservative Toomey. Read More

So much for the Specter of a Flu Pandemic
Washington found itself in the grip yesterday of two contagions: swine flu and Specter fever. Read More

Have a great day!