Hitting back, Specter calls Sestak a ‘flagrant hypocrite’ (Updated)

Despite campaigning across the state as a “true Democrat” ready to run against Senator Arlen Specter, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) did not register as a Democrat until shortly before running for Congress three years ago, according to voter registration records.

Specter’s campaign pointed out Sestak’s registration history, first in a message to supporters Monday, later in follow-up messages to a reporter and again in a fierce statement against Sestak Thursday. After more than two months…

July 9, 2009 at 4:58 pm | Comments (45)

Five Democrats who could shake up the Governor’s race

For months, Democratic insiders have looked at their party’s field for Governor and asked: “Is this it?”

And that was before Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham full story

July 8, 2009 at 2:14 pm | Comments (16)

Report: In early votes, Specter has stuck with Dems

In his short time as a Democrat, Senator Arlen Specter has mostly stuck with his new party when casting votes in Washington, according to a study by CQ Politics.

In looking at 20 votes that CQ considered to be party-line or near-party-line votes,

July 8, 2009 at 9:42 am | Comments (7)

The In-Specter on the state of the Senate race

If you’ve been following my analysis here at

July 7, 2009 at 10:20 am | Comments (18)

Sestak looking for low-level staffers, too

It’s already been noted that Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) is starting to look at high-level consultants for his all-but-certain Senate race against Arlen Specter. But it turns out his campaign is looking for low-level staffers as well.

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July 6, 2009 at 8:14 am | Comments (5)

Welch announces Congressional bid in 7th District

Businessman Steven Welch said Thursday that he would run for Congress in the 7th District, adding another candidate to a House race that is shaping up as one of the country’s most competitive.

Welch, a Republican and Phoenixville resident who founded and ran a biotechnology company called the Mitos Group, launched his candidacy by promising a new kind of voter engagement and decrying the economic policies of Democratic leaders in Washington.

“Like many residents of…

July 2, 2009 at 5:01 pm | Comments (1)

Sestak makes it official… or does he?

Another day, another report about Congressman Joe Sestak apparently and finally making his decision to run against Senator Arlen Specter.

This time, it’s The Wayne Independent claiming to have the first word of Sestak’s official announcement, which the Delaware County Congressman has been savvily—some might say agonizingly—dragging out for a solid two months now. In a teaser of an interview with him published Wednesday, Sestak says “ full story

July 1, 2009 at 2:12 pm | Comments (21)

Specter’s public-option switch shows importance of primary

In another sign that Senator Arlen Specter is anticipating a primary fight with Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7), the newly Democratic senator last week told a crowd of union activists that he supports a public health-insurance option as part of health-care reform, p“I know you are very interested in the public component and I think Senator Schumer has the right…

June 30, 2009 at 12:24 pm | Comments (1)

Pitts endorses Toomey

Congressman Joe Pitts (R-8) has endorsed Republican Pat Toomey in his bid for Senate, the Toomey campaign said today.

““I am honored to have Congressman Pitts’’ support and I look forward to him playing an important role in my campaign,”” Mr. Toomey said in an e-mailed statement. He also has been endorsed by Congressman Charlie Dent (R-15).

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June 25, 2009 at 5:35 pm | Comments (0)

With FEC deadline approaching, Sestak invokes the American Dream

With the quarterly Federal Election Commission filing deadline looming, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has written to supporters to remind them what he says his family’s narrative embodies, and his likely opponent, Senator Arlen Specter, does not: the American Dream.

Hoping to raise $70,000 by the June 30 deadline, Sestak wrote that his father—who as a child emigrated from Eastern Europe—instilled in him meritocratic values at odds with Specter’s candidacy. State and national Democratic leaders have…

June 24, 2009 at 1:02 pm | Comments (12)