I expected Specter to get between $2 million to $2.5 million. (then again, I thought Sestak would get more like $1.5 million). I wonder if this number takes into account returned donations?(example: specter raise $2 million, but gave back $250,000)

While this is not the blow-out I was hoping for, it does show that Specter is not in danger of Sestak overtaking Specter’s $3 million fund raising lead. This shows that even with a late start, negative press, and doubts by Dems Specter can still out raise Sestak. As Specter gets his footing, I would expect this fundraising gap to widen, especially when the big guns come into play. At some point, a few million Dems (who never heard of Sestak, but see Specter helping Obama on key issues) are going to get a fundraising letter from Obama on Specter’s behalf.

I’ll give Sestak credit in that he raised enough to make the argument he’s a “credible” threat, but now he’s got to sh*t or get off the pot so we can run a Dem to fill his seat.

Hahahaha.. sh*t or get off the pot. The story of Joe Sestak’s candidacy.

It’s more likely he raised 1.75mil but the 7.5mil represents after money was given back.

Jack is exactly right. From an inside source, Specter had 6.8m million when his finance director left to Toomey’s campaign

Paul-
When did his finance director leave? (when was 0.7 million ago? last month?)

If all the give back is done with, then the $7.5 million becomes a minimum with no more drainage.

I still think Sestak should give back the $3 million he raised for his 2008 re-election that he never intended to spend. The money was supposed to be spent on the 7th congressional district.

Specter it done for.

Dave,

You’re right — Sestak is very credible!!

“PA Sen. Bob Casey: Sestak Would Be “Very Competitive” Against Specter

Wow, so this should give newly-minted Dem Arlen Specter some serious agita: His fellow Pennsylvania Dem Senator, Bob Casey, said in an interview that if Joe Sestak challenges Specter in a primary, he will be a “very strong candidate” and be “very, very competitive.”

The claim from Casey, who has endorsed Specter, suggests that the Dem establishment is all too aware of how formidable a challenge Sestak could pose to Specter, despite the support he enjoys from the White House, Harry Reid, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Casey made the assertion last week during an interview with WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR affiliate, that passed unnoticed. Sestak’s campaign tracked down the interview and sent me a transcript, which WHYY confirmed is genuine. Here’s what Casey said:

“If Congressman Sestak runs, the next option is to have a primary that’s not … divisive and acrimonious so that we have a split in the party going in to the general election. That’s my hope. But he’s a very strong candidate and if he runs it’ll be a very, very competitive primary.”

That’s the first acknowledgment from one of Specter’s Dem establishment supporters of the challenge Sestak poses, and could give a boost to Sestak by helping with fundraising and persuading insiders that his candidacy is real.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/campaigns/pa-sen-bob-casey-sestak-would-be-very-competitive-against-specter/

So much for Rendell’s prediction that Sestak would get killed and be out-raised by Specter 4 to 1.

Ladies and Gentlemen…we have a race!!

“If Congressman Sestak runs, the next option is to have a primary that’s not … divisive and acrimonious so that we have a split in the party going in to the general election.” Bob Casey

That, ladies and gentlemen, applies to BOTH candidates and their supporters; not only to the challenger. One might think otherwise by reading some of the highly negative and personal comments which have been written on this blog. Let’s leave the sliming to the Republicans. Let’s have a primary during which policy issues are the crux of the debate.

Mike-
Specter himself has said that he considers Sestak to be a strong candidate.
My point is not if he’s “credible” in that he can make Specter “work for it”, but that this is a tremendous waste of Dem resources because SESTAK IS NOT A PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL. I’d like Specter to take Sestak out quickly, to avoid a costly primary that will hurt the party. The Toomey people are the ones happiest about Sestak running. That should tell you something.

Lee-
Sestak’s not focusing on policy issues as much as he’s calling into question Specter’s character, motivation and commitment to the Democratic party. On the issues in front of us, Specter is on board with Obama’s plans to move the country forward. (Sestak loves to talk about ignoring our wake when he doesn’t want to hold Bush admin accountable, but all he’s talking about is Specter’s wake.)

As far as personal issues, Sestak’s whole political career (all three years of it) has been about HIM and not helping local Dems or working with the party. He’s repeatedly demonstrated selfishness and arrogance and has acted dishonestly and dishonorably. (Maybe honorable during his 31 year in military, but he seems to have left it behind when he entered civilian life.) His word and promises have been proven to be simply no good. His rage and outbursts and treatment of his congressional staffers all indicate that he is unfit to hold ANY office, especially Senator.

Joe acts like he’s the Prince of Delaware County, but he’s more like “The Prince” by Machiavelli with the ends (his own advancement) justifying the means (depriving local candidates of help and resources).

David

If you are agreeing that the campaign should be waged on differences between Sestak and Specter on the issues; and that, so far, it hasn’t happened (on either side), we are on the same page. As for leaving the sliming to the Republicans, well, I guess you just can’t help yourself.

Lee-
I don’t think there should be a campaign at all, because Specter isn’t that bad, and Sestak isn’t that good, to justify wasting millions of Dem dollars. It the wrong primary at the wrong time. It will hurt the party and help Toomey.

As for the issues, Sestak can’t run on them because his voting history is too thin. He’s counting on Specter’s record being too thick, but Specter’s still got plenty of pro-Dem key votes.

As for sliming Sestak, let’s just say he started off with lots of respect and benefit of the doubt in 2006, and managed to blow it to earn every bit of slime that falls back his way.

I got an unsolicited contact by a local Dem who’s recently done some work volunteering at Sestak’s campaign HQ and sent me some 2009 observations. It appears little has changed from what I saw in 2006. Key quotes I received:
“what I see around me is a bunch of kids running his campaign. Mostly people between 17-25″
“this campaign is all about “What can Delaware County do for JOE SESTAK?” and not the other way around.”
“I still have doubts about this Senate race”
“I cannot ignore the sour feeling in my stomach about the Sestak run for Senate”

Lee, Sestak got away with a lot of this in 2006, because Weldon was a terrible congressman. We were so eager to defeat him that we accepted Sestak over other candidates we preferred, because we thought he had a better shot. However, Sestak didn’t live up to his promises (on and off the campaign trail) and has burnt bridges with the local Dems he ignored. (When Sestak started burning his bridge with me, I threw on gasoline to make doubly sure I never made the mistake of crossing back over that bridge.)

Now, in 2009, more people are catching on to what Sestak is really about (himself). A Dem primary is less motivating than “taking back congress”, so people are being more cautious before making a commitment.