The First Read — April 30, 2009

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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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Torsella: Rendell hasn’t asked me to bow out
Contradicting reports that emerged late Wednesday morning, the Senate campaign of Joe Torsella told pa010.com that Gov. Ed Rendell has not asked Torsella to exit the Democratic primary in favor of Arlen Specter. Read More

Sestak seen as most likely to run against Specter in primary
With the Democratic Party seemingly lining up behind Senator Arlen Specter at the state and national levels, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has emerged as the most likely candidate to buck party leaders and run against Specter, party insiders and political analysts say. Read More

Will Dems be looking for Specter endorsements?
Before Senator Arlen Specter again became a pariah to the GOP’s conservative base, down-ballot candidates would habitually bring him on stage to get his backing for their candidacies. Now that Specter’s switching sides, it begs the question: Will Democrats do the same? Read More

Shifting sands of Pa. politics endangered Specter
A common meme in the press is that Pennsylvania, like the rest of the Northeast, has shifted to the left in the last 20 years. However, matters are more complicated than this. Read More

Gerlach for Senate? ‘Don’t rule anything out’
Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) says he’s being encouraged to run for Senate. Read More

Schwartz won’t run for Senate
“The direction she is going is to stay in the House and work on issues that are meaningful to her, such as health care reform.” Read More

Will the NRSC abandon Toomey?
“I don’t think there is anybody in the world who believes he can get elected senator there.” Read More

Obama welcomes Specter to Democratic Party
President Obama said today that he doesn’t expect Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania to “be a rubber stamp” now that he is switching his political affiliation from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, and he said he welcomes Specter’s “counsel and advice, especially when we disagree.” Read More

The morning after: Conspiracy theories and names in the air
It could be called the equivalent of the political hangover: A news event rocks the political landscape, and in the process pundits, journalists and insiders throw out so many different hypothetically impending scenarios that it’s hard to keep track of what had merit in reality and what was a pipe dream. The next morning, it’s all a cesspool of political speculation and innuendo. Read More

Limbaugh to Specter: Please take McCain with you
Conservative host Rush Limbaugh said he isn’t sorry to see Arlen Specter leave the GOP — and that many Republicans wish the Pennsylvania senator would take a few others with him when he goes. Read More