Sestak run will drive Specter further to the left

Congressman Joe Sestak’s (D-7) likely entry into the Senate race will certainly pose a threat to incumbent Senator Arlen Specter’s chances in the Democratic primary in 2010. In order to win, Sestak will run an aggressive campaign in southeastern Pennsylvania with an agenda built upon far leftist positions in the hopes that Democrats will reject Specter and his history of political opportunism at the expense of Pennsylvanians. Sestak will be able to talk at great…

May 28, 2009 at 2:38 pm | Comments (0)

THE PRESS ROOM: Another PR coup for Sestak

An occasional series of articles exploring how political campaigns are playing out in the media.

It was a familiar scene: Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) gracing the airwaves, talking about his military background, criticizing Senator Arlen Specter and lamenting that party leaders had chosen to crown him the Democratic standard-bearer.

In fact, Sestak’s evening media blitz on Wednesday was eerily similar to the string of television appearances he made…

May 28, 2009 at 10:59 am | Comments (0)

More on Sestak and Sotomayor

As predicted

May 27, 2009 at 6:56 pm | Comments (0)

Toomey happy to see a Specter challenger

The man who entered Senate race to unseat Arlen Specter is, not surprisingly, glad to see that Specter couldn’t escape a primary challenge by switching parties.

In a statement released shortly after news broke that Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) is planning to run against Specter, Republican Pat Toomey welcomed him to the race.

“While Joe Sestak and I disagree on a host of issues, I commend him for being a principled liberal who stands up…

May 27, 2009 at 6:21 pm | Comments (2)

Analyst: Primary no ‘cakewalk’ for Specter

If Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) does indeed run for Senate, Pennsylvania Democrats should get ready for a contentious and exciting primary—and one that could get vicious.

That’s the message of Franklin & Marshall College political analyst G. Terry Madonna.

“I think we could have a real donnybrook of a contest, and I think it could get pretty tense and pretty difficult,” Madonna told pa2010.com after the news broke that Sestak plans to run against Senator…

May 27, 2009 at 6:10 pm | Comments (2)

Still behind Specter, Pa. Dems await ‘spirited primary’

Now that Pennsylvania Democrats are confronting the prospect of a truly competitive Senate primary, things just got more difficult for Gov. Ed Rendell and his newly-Democratic friend Senator Arlen Specter.

But party leaders say they’re not panicking, even as they continued their implied support for Specter.

“Everybody’s going to look forward to a very spirited primary next year,” Abe Amoros, the party’s political director, told pa2010.com Wednesday evening.

“The party has made its position clear…

May 27, 2009 at 5:40 pm | Comments (0)

Sestak saying he’ll run for Senate (UPDATED)

Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has been telling supporters that he plans to run for Senate, giving Senator Arlen Specter the primary challenge he and party leaders had hoped to avoid, Democratic sources confirmed Wednesday night.

Talking Points Memo first full story

May 27, 2009 at 5:06 pm | Comments (2)

Report: Specter and Obama and DNC fundraiser

Senator Arlen Specter will join President Obama at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser for the first time, Hotline

May 27, 2009 at 12:00 pm | Comments (0)

Labor poll shows Sestak in better position

Most polling data since Senator Arlen Specter switched parties last month has shown Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) with a steep uphill climb if he decides to challenge Specter in the Democratic primary. But a new poll commissioned by labor groups shows Sestak in a slightly better position, with support for Specter beginning to soften.

The Fix

May 27, 2009 at 11:57 am | Comments (1)

Specter camp’s response to seniority attack line: It didn’t matter anyway

Before Democrat Joe Torsella no longer count on the Senate seniority he has often told voters is so important to them.

Specter has said he will

May 27, 2009 at 9:40 am | Comments (1)