Obama and Specter, hands held high

Here’s a state Democratic Party-funded piece of campaign literature making the rounds in Philadelphia, first published by

May 18, 2010 at 3:30 pm | Comments (5)

Obama’s campaign arm antes up for Specter

Despite President Obama’s decision not to make a late-game campaign stop for Senator Arlen Specter, the White House has made a Specter victory on Tuesday one of the top priorities for Obama’s political organization.

Organizing for America, Obama’s arm of the Democratic National Committee, had poured about two dozen staffers into Pennsylvania during the closing days of the campaign, according to Democrats familiar with the effort. The organization also has field staff working on the…

May 17, 2010 at 6:10 pm | Comments (54)

LEFTOVERS: Plouffe boosts Specter, late-game endorsements for Onorato and Wagner

Almost out of nowhere in the last 24 hours, a strong “Obama-has-given-up-on-Specter” meme took hold in the press. It’s the natural media overreaction to the premature counting out of Joe Sestak months ago. Yes, Arlen Specter very well could lose on Tuesday, and anyone who supports him is mentally “preparing” for that, the same way you prepare for any possibility. But everyone should calm down. Virtually nothing changed in the complexion of this race between…

May 17, 2010 at 5:47 pm | Comments (6)

Report: White House preparing for Specter loss

On the eve of the Democratic Senate primary, it appears that the White House and President Obama are getting ready for the possibility that their horse might not make it across the finish line.

Bob Schieffer, the chief Washington correspondent for CBC, appeared on the local Philadelphia affiliate Monday morning, and said administration officials have told him on background that “the White House is preparing for a specter loss and that the president doesn’t want…

May 17, 2010 at 12:34 pm | Comments (16)

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)

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 full story

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

Specter’s latest TV ad highlights support from Obama

A week away from the primary, Senator Arlen Specter’s campaign is increasingly playing up its most high-profile supporter: President Obama.

The campaign on Tuesday started airing a new TV ad, a 30-second spot highlighting Obama’s appearance for Specter last year at a downtown Philadelphia fundraiser. The ad was airing Tuesday morning in the Philadelphia media market, and audio from the same event has already been used for a radio spot run by Specter’s campaign.

“…you…

May 11, 2010 at 12:20 pm | Comments (20)

Critz lukewarm (at best) on Obama

With President Obama suffering from low approval ratings in the 12th Congressional District, Democrat Mark Critz seems decidedly coy about whether it wants—or even asked for—Obama’s support.

The president’s backing is, of course, assumed, as the head of the Democratic Party for which Critz is trying to hold the seat left open by the late John Murtha.

Nevertheless, when

May 5, 2010 at 10:45 am | Comments (1)

Obama featured in new Specter radio ad

With primary day fast approaching, Senator Arlen Specter’s campaign continues to highlight its support from President Obama.

A new radio ad uses clips from Obama’s visit to Philadelphia last year for a Specter fundraiser. “Arlen’s not someone who came to Washington to fight for a particular ideology,” Obama says in the ad. “He came to fight for the working men and women of Pennsylvania. And he has a long and successful record of doing just…

April 30, 2010 at 12:15 pm | Comments (32)

Obama e-mails for Specter

President Obama tapped into his politically powerful e-mail list Tuesday, penning a missive on behalf of Senator Arlen Specter, who he called a “champion of Wall Street reform and combating climate change.”

Obama’s e-mail list, now housed in the Organizing for America arm of the Democratic National Committee, has been a source of much intrigue as the single biggest voter e-mail list on record, and political watchers are always looking for when and how Obama…

April 27, 2010 at 1:45 pm | Comments (39)