Not really a big surprise. I’m impressed with how much he’s been able to retain.

During the week ending 7/10/09, Specter voted in favor of speeding up construction of that ridiculous fence on the U.S.-Mexican border. Casey voted in opposition. Who’s the true Democrat?

Sestak’s filing is online:

In case there was any doubt Sestak was really a conservative (or that Sestak is playing into Toomey’s hands):

Sestak got the MAX $4,800 donation (primary plus general) from Richard Mellon Scaife.
(The super rich conservative behind the American Spectator and the media push against Bill Clinton.)

From Wikipedia:
“Political donations

According to campaignmoney.com, from 1999 through 2006, Scaife has, under the name “R. Scaife,” made 10 contributions of over $200 to political campaigns, for a total of $19,000. Under the name “R.M. Scaife” he made 4 donations, for a total of $22,000. Under the name Richard Scaife, he made 23 donations over this period, for a total of $142,904. Besides donations to the Republican National Committee and various political campaigns such as Santorum 2000 and the Santorum Victory Committee for Rick Santorum, he has also supported Political Action Committees such as the Pro-Growth Action Team, the Free Congress PAC (formerly: Committee For the Survival Of a Free Congress), and the Club For Growth Inc. PAC. Scaife also funded the Western Journalism Center, headed by Joseph Farah.”

More likely, David, Scaife feels betrayed by Specter switching parties and wanted to contribute to his defeat. Scaife probably would contibute to any candidate he thought had a chance of defeating Specter.

Btw, did you see Specter yesterday when he was questioning Sotomayor? Aside from the fact that his voice was very weak (I hope he is not ill), he came across as annoyed at, not supportive of, her. Yes, of course, he will vote for her in the end; but the MSNBC commentators observed that he was attempting to make up for his shameful questioning of Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas nomination heraing. If so, his effort fell flat.

Lee-
With “Club for Growth”, more likely Scaife supports Toomey.
From Wikipedia:
“From 2005 to 2009, [Toomey] served as president of the Club for Growth.
In 2004, he challenged incumbent Senator Arlen Specter in the Republican primary election. Aided by $2 million of advertising from the Club for Growth, Toomey’s campaign theme was that Specter was too moderate, especially on fiscal issues. Toomey frequently denounced Specter as a liberal spendthrift.”

Scaife is a super-rich guy that doesn’t want to pay the taxes when Bush’s tax cuts for the rich expire. Toomey is his guy.
The Republicans think (rightly or wrongly)
1) they can beat Sestak easier than Specter
2) the winner of the primary will be so financially drained that they can defeat the Dems (at least a better shot at weakened Specter)
3) the voters will be sick of both Dems and the negative campaigning
4) Toomey will have his pick of soundbites and opposition research from them fighting each other
5) The GOP will be able to re-capture the PA-7 seat once Sestak abandons it.

The bottom line is that Sestak is playing directly into the GOP’s hands.

Specter seemed more annoyed by the dog-and-pony show the hearing process has become and the lack of candor by nominees answering direct questions. His former GOP colleagues harped on the “latina” comments and some of them displayed not very well veiled racism. The GOP really went out of it’s way to embarrass itself, and I think Specter was relieved to not be a part of their team.