The weekend in video

PITTSBURGH—It was a weekend of political hob-nobbing and joke-telling at the Democratic State Committee here. From remarks by Gov. Ed Rendell to Senator Arlen Speccter, pa2010.com has it all below.

Stay tuned for an update with full video of Specter’s formal speech to the State Committee.

Visit the

June 8, 2009 at 6:00 am | Comments (0)

The First Read — June 8, 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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For first time, Specter formally addresses Pa. Dems
PITTSBURGH—Senator Arlen Specter formally addressed his new party Saturday afternoon, telling a meeting of the Democratic State Committee here…

June 8, 2009 at 5:30 am | Comments (0)

For first time, Specter formally addresses Pa. Dems

PITTSBURGH—Senator Arlen Specter formally addressed his new party Saturday afternoon, telling a meeting of the Democratic State Committee here that he was proud to be a Democrat once again and that he would work hard to elect other Democratic candidates.

”Maybe it’s no coincidence that I feel so comfortable with Democrats, because I’ve spent most of my life with Democrats,” Specter said, calling himself an “FDR and JFK Democrat.”

“Maybe it’s no coincidence that I’ve…

June 6, 2009 at 1:32 pm | Comments (0)

From the Blogs

Live-blogging Specter’s speech to the Democratic State Committee

by Dan Hirschhorn

12:16—People are filing in… Specter is expected to speak shortly.

12:17—Specter’s not now on-stage with his chief of staff.

12:23—T.J. Rooney is trying to quite everyone down. From an outsider’s perspective, this would often seem the hardest part of his job.

12:26—They’re doing the invocation… not sure why these are always needed at political events… but hey, it works.

12:27—Pledge of Allegiance

12:28—National Anthem

12:30—Opening remarks by Rooney. Talking about anniversary of D-Day.…

June 6, 2009 at 12:16 pm | Comments (1)

Sestak: Only an ‘act of God’ will keep him out of Senate race

PITTSBURGH—Short of divine intervention, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) is running for Senate.

“It would take an act of God for me to not get in now,” Sestak told a Democratic State Committeeman Saturday morning within earshot of reporters.

Hearing his quote read back to him, Sestak cringed.

“That sounds blasphemous,” he said, not denying that he said it—and has said it before.

But he reiterated to pa2010.com that the final decision rests with his family—not…

June 6, 2009 at 11:43 am | Comments (10)

At labor rally, frustration with Specter is palpable

PITTSBURGH—Organized labor’s dissatisfaction with Senator Arlen Specter spilled over into clear view Saturday morning, when the new Democrat was met with skepticism—and even some hostility—as he spoke at a rally here for the Employee Free Choice Act.

During his ten-minute remarks to a couple hundred union workers assembled outside the Westin Convention Center, Specter sought to focus attention on his past support for initiatives important to organized labor, and in what is becoming a familiar…

June 6, 2009 at 11:36 am | Comments (3)

From the Blogs

Live-blogging Friday night at the Dem committee meeting in Pittsburgh

by Dan Hirschhorn

6:40—Flight from Philly was delayed, so I arrived late.

6:45—First thing I see is Joe Sestak talking with Shanin Specter like they’re old friends. “I’m trying to recruit him,” Sestak jokes. Also, did you know Sestak is apparently the only Congressman whose business card has braile?

6:47—Saw Gary Tuma for the first time in a while. Didn’t realize the former Vince Fumo spokesman now works for the party.

6:55—Specter is here with his chief of…

June 5, 2009 at 11:45 pm | Comments (2)

Specter greets his new party

PITTSBURGH—Senator Arlen Specter on Friday night met his new party for the first time, briefly taking the stage at the State Committee’s dinner here to accept a blue “donkey tie” from Gov. Ed Rendell and Senator Bob Casey.

Originally scheduled to address to party faithful at the Friday night dinner, Specter rescheduled his formal speech for Saturday so as not to distract from the remembrance of the late Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.

But regardless…

June 5, 2009 at 9:02 pm | Comments (0)

Rendell says Specter’s stimulus vote ‘saved the country’

PITTSBURGH—In lauding Senator Arlen Specter and his Democratic credentials here Friday night, Gov. Ed Rendell went so far as to say that Specter’s vote for President Obama’s stimulus package “saved the country.”

“We had to have a stimulus program … and Arlen Specter understood what was good for the country,” Rendell said. “He cast the vote knowing it would put his political career in peril. He cast that vote fearlessly. … He saved the country…

June 5, 2009 at 8:17 pm | Comments (0)

Labor leader: Specter needs to vote ‘more like other Democratic Senators’

PITTSBURGH—Though many political insiders expect organized labor to eventually line up behind Senator Arlen Specter in next year’s Democratic primary, AFL-CIO head Bill George said that’s far from a given.

“He’s gotta vote more like other Democratic Senators in the northeast,” Geroge told pa2010.com Friday evening, comparing Specter’s labor voting record with other area Democrats.

How important is the Employee Free Choice Act in that picture?

“Nothing is more important than that,” George said.