Pro-choice group backs Sestak

One of the most prominent abortion rights groups in the country endorsed Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) for Senate on Wednesday, saying that Senator Arlen Specter is not a reliable pro-choice vote.

The endorsement from NARAL Pro-Choice America’s political action committee came after Sestak was recently endorsed by the National Organization for Women’s PAC. Together, the support has given him room to cut into one of Specter’s most frequently cited liberal credentials.

“We are proud to …

May 12, 2010 at 10:53 pm | Comments (14)

Knox makes his picks

Millionaire businessman Tom Knox, who dropped out of the Democratic race for governor earlier this year, was briefly back on the political radar Wednesday evening, when he e-mailed supporters to make his endorsements in the party’s statewide races.

Knox endorsed Senator Arlen Specter for renomination, and backed Dan Onorato in the governor’s race, picking the Allegheny County Executive over state Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), who entered the race largely because Knox, who he supported, got …

May 12, 2010 at 10:35 pm | Comments (6)

OFA gears up for Specter

Organizing for America, President Obama’s arm of the Democratic National Committee, is ready to work toward an Arlen Specter win next Tuesday in Pennsylvania.

One of the first steps? The group has …

May 12, 2010 at 10:28 pm | Comments (6)

Specter sinks, Williams rises, Sestak endorses: Notes on a bizarre primary season

1. I don’t know if Joe Sestak is going to beat Arlen Specter—it looks increasingly likely—but the …

May 12, 2010 at 2:53 pm | Comments (4)

Why I’m voting for Joe Sestak

After closely following the Democratic Senate primary for more than a year, and after careful and often painstaking internal deliberations in light of my beliefs and responsibilities as a loyal Democrat, I have decided to vote for Congressman Joe Sestak.

This has not been an easy choice. Senator Arlen Specter is a man I respect, a man who has dedicated his life to serving Pennsylvania. And since becoming a Democrat last year, he has been …

May 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm | Comments (23)

Woops: Specter makes another party slip-up

Last time, Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter said thank you to the “college Republicans” when he meant “college Democrats.” On Tuesday night, he twice thanked the “Allegheny County Republicans”—during a dinner with the local Democrats.

Politico …

May 12, 2010 at 10:20 am | Comments (42)

Dems fare well against Toomey, poll says

Regardless of who wins next Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary, both Joe Sestak and Arlen Specter could find themselves on solid footing in a matchup with Republican Pat Toomey in the fall, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall survey released Wednesday showed Sestak holding a statistically insignificant 2-point lead with likely primary voters, 38 percent to 36 percent. But the poll showed both of them performing better against Toomey, the presumptive GOP nominee, …

May 12, 2010 at 8:57 am | Comments (7)

Poll: Senate race ‘too close to call’

Senator Arlen Specter holds a statistically insignificant two-point lead in the final days before his primary election showdown with Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7), according to a new poll.

The Quinnipiac University survey released Wednesday echoed what has now become an overwhelming body of polling data that shows Specter double-digit lead over his challenger having completely evaporated. In the poll, Specter wins 44 percent of the vote, compared to 42 for Sestak. And in an indication …

May 12, 2010 at 8:25 am | Comments (21)

LEFTOVERS: No Obama visit, Peterson for Huber, Joe the Plumber, 50-foot Pelosi

Senator Arlen Specter won’t get a late-primary visit from his supporter-in-chief, President Obama. That was one of the takeaways from White House Press Secretary Gibbs’ briefing with reporters on Tuesday. Politico TV ads.

Meanwhile, Republican Paul Huber got a nice boost in his campaign for the party’s nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. Huber, a Meadville businessman, was endorsed by former Congressman John Peterson, who for six terms represented central Pennsylvania’s 5th District. “After …

May 11, 2010 at 7:23 pm | Comments (10)

Specter raised more than twice Sestak’s haul in April

Though neither Democrat has matched Republican Pat Toomey’s fundraising prowess for months, Senator Arlen Specter continued in April to bring in money at a significantly higher clip than primary opponent Joe Sestak.

Specter raised about $305,000 between April 1 and April 28, according to newly-filed campaign finance data. He spent heavily on TV, sending more than $3.5 million out the door in total. But a large campaign war chest left him on strong financial footing, …

May 11, 2010 at 12:44 pm | Comments (11)