Specter easily tops Toomey in new poll; matchup with Ridge much closer

Newly Democratic Senator Arlen Specter was dreading his GOP contest against Pat Toomey, so much so that the longtime incumbent switched parties last week. But if new polling is any indication, Specter should be hoping he meets Toomey in a general election next year.

In the first full story

May 4, 2009 at 9:03 am | Comments (4)

Moving forward, Torsella launches Web site

In another sign that he has no intention of exiting the Democratic primary for Senate, Joe Torsella launched a

May 4, 2009 at 8:31 am | Comments (3)

Lamb: ‘I know I’m funnier than Al Franken’

Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb this week added his name to the list of Democrats willing to go up against Senator Arlen Specter and leaders in his new party, saying he’s

May 3, 2009 at 12:51 pm | Comments (1)

Specter can’t erase his past

In response to the GOP pOk, let me get this straight: Specter is now going to take the high road and act as if he is above negative campaigning. This is the same Specter that, just a few weeks ago, launched bitter attack ads on statewide television against a Republican who hadn’t even become a declared candidate. Specter may have gotten a new letter after his name and a fancy new desk on the floor of the Senate, but he can’t erase his past./p
pIt is amazing! Specter leaves the Republican Party and now he wants to forget his past transgressions. Good luck! Specter may not want to answer to the Pennsylvania electorate, or as he puts it, “to have my 29-year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate,” but he will no choice in November 2010. That is assuming he gets that far./p
pAccording to reports, Specter is going to still have some primary problems, this time on the Democrat side. a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/04/torsella-rendell-hasnt-asked-me-to-bow-out/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F04%2Ftorsella-rendell-hasnt-asked-me-to-bow-out%2F','Click+here')" target="_blank"Click here/a to read empa2010.com/em editor Dan Hirschhorn’s story on Joe Torsella’s campaign and his intention to stay in the race. And check out Congressman Sestak’s (D-7) latest comments a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/sestak-specter-better-shape-up.php" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Ftpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fsestak-specter-better-shape-up.php','here')" target="_blank">here.

April 30, 2009 at 12:45 pm | Comments (0)

Rendell & Torsella: Clearing things up

So there’s been some confusion about exactly what Gov. Ed Rendell has said to Democrat Joe Torsella regarding the Senate race. I’ve reviewed his recent statements, and what seems to have happened is this.

-Rendell, in formal and informal statements, has made it abundantly clear he is behind Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary. He has said it would probably be best if Torsella stepped aside.

-But there is no indication, yet, that he…

April 29, 2009 at 10:56 pm | Comments (0)

Torsella: Rendell hasn’t asked me to bow out

Contradicting reports that emerged late Wednesday morning, the Senate campaign of Joe Torsella told pa010.com that Gov. Ed Rendell has not asked Torsella to exit the Democratic primary in favor of Arlen Specter.

Rendell and President Obama have both signaled that they’ll back Specter, who said he would

April 29, 2009 at 3:07 pm | Comments (7)

Sestak seen as most likely to run against Specter in primary

With the Democratic Party seemingly lining up behind Senator Arlen Specter at the state and national levels, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has emerged as the most likely candidate to buck party leaders and run against Specter, party insiders and political analysts say.

While Democrats across the state were issuing statements in support of Specter’s decision to full story

April 29, 2009 at 1:47 pm | Comments (22)

The morning after: Conspiracy theories and names in the air

It could be called the equivalent of the political hangover: A news event rocks the political landscape, and in the process pundits, journalists and insiders throw out so many different hypothetically impending scenarios that it’s hard to keep track of what had merit in reality and what was a pipe dream.

The next morning, it’s all a cesspool of political speculation and innuendo.

The day after Senator Arlen Specter full story

April 29, 2009 at 8:33 am | Comments (4)

A day—and a decision—that transformed the political landscape

When the sun rose Tuesday morning, all was well. The Democratic Senate primary was a ticked off the conservative base from time to time.

What a difference a day makes.

Specter’s full story

April 28, 2009 at 11:17 pm | Comments (2)

Oxman downplays importance of Rendell’s support

Neil Oxman, the longtime political strategist who has been close to Gov. Ed Rendell for years, is now in the awkward position of having to say that his old boss actually doesn’t matter much.

Oxman is working for Democrat Joe Torsella, who now has to face newly-Democratic Senator Arlen Specter in next year’s primary. Torsella had been seen as Rendell’s favored candidate, but now most assume he’ll back Specter.

In an interview with Politico, Oxman…

April 28, 2009 at 5:47 pm | Comments (0)