Appears to be politican move by Specter — attempting to distract attention away from today’s bad polling numbers.

Only 28% of Pennsylvanians want Specter re-elected; 57% believe its “time for a change”.

Does anyone else get the feeling that Specter’s support is “top-heavy” … its an inverted christmas tree, with no base of support?

With his job approval is at just 32%, he’s in serious trouble.

So top heavy, Mike, that Specter’s support just may topple over and not be able to pick itself up. It’s obvious that Specter and friends are putting all of their effort into trying to make his nomination look inevitable. The F&M poll is like pulling back the curtin and exposing Specter’s support as being largely a facade.

“Number of the day

28 percent.

That’s the (surprisingly low) percentage of Pennsylvania voters who believe that party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) deserves re-election, according to a new Franklin and Marshall poll.

And it explains why Rep. Joe Sestak is preparing to challenge Specter in a Democratic primary, and why Republicans are a bit more confident of their chances in winning the Senate seat next November.

The poll shows Specter is still facing a serious political challenge, as he seeks a sixth term as a Democrat — and that his actions in the first several months haven’t won over a majority of Pennsylvania Democrats. A strong 57 percent majority of respondents said that “it’s time for a change” and that Specter hasn’t won their support.

Only 43 percent of Democrats said Specter deserves re-election, with 39 percent arguing it’s time for a change.

Specter’s approval rating dropped 18 points in the last two months from 52 to 34 percent. Among Democrats, he only holds a 46 percent approval rating — hardly gangbusters in a contested primary.

Most Democrats surveyed are undecided about the primary. Only one-third (33 percent) of Democratic voters said they’re voting for Specter, 13 percent are backing Sestak, with the majority (48 percent) saying they’re undecided.

That suggests there’s plenty of room for the little-known Sestak to grow, as he begins a campaign and gets higher name recognition throughout the state. While Specter will have the support from leading Democrats and will have an expensive campaign payroll, Sestak also has millions in his campaign account – well more than enough resources to launch a competitive campaign. (It certainly doesn’t look like Sestak will “get killed,” as Rendell said.)

And it also shows that Republican Pat Toomey may have a fighting chance against Specter, if he ends up winning a Democratic primary.”

By Josh Kraushaar 09:22 AM 6/25/09
The Politico

People need to wait and see Specter’s votes on the big issues. The public has short-term memories and there is a long way to go.

Everybody knows Specter. Sestak playing 9 more months of “look at me” is going to wear thin. Sestak’s game is to call into question Specter’s upcoming votes. When those votes actually do come, Sestak’s will be low on ammo. Sestak’s maxing out his donors now, even getting their general election money. That well is going to dry up fast.

I don’t think the people in Pittsburgh will forget that Arlen Specter stood by as their city rusted and jobs left while he was too busy taking money from lawyers and health care lobbyists to care.

People in Philly might have short-term memories, but we don’t forget out West.

Maybe that explains all the political “elephants” out West.