I’ve been saying all along that Sestak intended to run and had been planning this since last year. It was obvious that this was the primary motivation behind the massive fundraising last year. Sestak had everyone (well, not me) believing that he needed the money for TV and radio ads, but it was clear from the weakness of his opposition that he needed no such media blitz.

See, Sestak dug himself a hole. He started the “active” campaign with fake outrage over Specter and pretending that the outcry from the grassroots was pulling him toward running. Of course, this was BS and I’ve been calling him on it.
The more obvious truth (as I see it) is that Sestak was afraid of running against Specter in the General. Meanwhile, Torsella was looking like a strong primary candidate, with backing from Rendell. Sestak would then have to take out Torsella in a primary and then try to fight off Specter and rebuild his war chest. Toomey was looking more likely to run for Governor, and Specter was safe.
Once noise of Toomey challenging Specter started picking up steam, it began too look like the Dem primary winner would be facing Toomey (and an easy win). Everybody started getting more interested (Josh Shapiro was eying a run).
When Specter switched, everyone with common sense (and small war chest) got out, and Sestak got in (without actually getting in).

Sestak can switch his story about his motivations all he wants. It doesn’t change the core motivation that he’s out for himself, and doesn’t care about the party, the candidates in his district, or the fate of his district if it falls into GOP hands. It’s all about Joe (and it always has been).

A recent Sestak campaign worker contacted me and wrote:
“..[they] gave me the impression that this campaign is all about “What can Delaware County do for JOE SESTAK?” and not the other way around.”
and
“I cannot ignore the sour feeling in my stomach about the Sestak run for Senate.”

I find it interesting that, at the same time that Specter is launching a coordinated smear campaign against Sestak, independent comments that largely echo the Specter themes are showing up here. Is there anything new here, or the same-old same-old?

Dan,

You’re correct in your insight: “What it does amount to is a shift in strategy from the Specter folks, one that could signify them seeing Sestak as a greater threat than before.”

Sestak is not in the race yet, and Specter’s folks have already elevated Sestak’s profile even further by their immature attacks in a time of deep recission.

In a Dem primary, Specter can’t run on the issues – he’s doomed, after supporting Bush & Santorum the past 8 years that!!

All that Specter has left is to run a divise, nasty personal attack against Sestak. Sestak wins on policy, and Specter knows it.

Wait till Sestak starts “pile-driving” Specter over the head on policy issues/on Specter’s votes in support of the Republican agenda that got us into this deep recession.

Voters aren’t idiots, especially Dem primary voters.

Dan, the most important news of the week was never commented on in your blog.

Governor Ed Spendell, after successfully pleading for leniency for his fellow Philadelphian Vince Fumo who got caught with his hand in the taxpayers’ pocket 137 times, also has artfully positioned his party as the party of raising taxes on working families. It was an image two-fer for the Democratic party: anti-reform and anti-taxpayer. I’m beginning to think that Ed does deserve a statuette – at leats on every GOP Gov candidate’s mantelplace and probably on those of lots of GOP House challengers who can now run hard against tax hikers. Things are looking up for candidates running on the two main issues of our party next year.

Obama had to work hard last year to fight off the tax hiker label for his party and the DC media assigned corruption to the GOP (never mind the corrupt Illinois Gov Blago). Nationally, Obama and his party won the fight because they successfully showed that they were comparatively cleaner and comparatively better for the middle class.

Well, that was then. Now, Ed and the PA House Ds have decided to run as the pro-corruption and pro-tax hike party and, for once, our GOP statehouse leaders have gotten it right by arguing against tax hikes and against corruption.

That is why the biggest political news of the week was the budget fight in government,

I think Sestak should rrun for congress. Him going negative hurts our party in 2010. We’re party builders, not divisive, like he’s been.