PA-Sen: Gov. Rendell pledges support for Dem candidate

[ccharles000]

It shouldn't be news when the Democratic Governor of a Democratic state pledges to support the Democratic candidate in the 2010 Senate election, but with Rendell, it is.

In 2004, Rendell shut down his state's party machine in order to protect Sen. Arlen Specter's reelection campaign, hanging Democratic nominee Joe Hoeffel out to dry. Specter gave Rendell his first job out of law school, and the two clearly have a warm relationship. And recently, Rendell has admitted efforts to get his old friend to switch to the Democratic Party.

But Specter refuses, and even though he now suggests he could run as an independent, he still says he'd continue caucusing with the GOP. So Greg Sargent went to Rendell's office and asked if we'd see a reprise of 2004:

Rendell spokesperson Chuck Ardo tells me that Rendell will throw his full weight behind the Democrat if Specter stays Republican or becomes a GOP-caucusing Indy. "He will do everything he can to support the Democratic candidate," Ardo says, "no matter what the circumstances."

What’s more, Rendell has to make good on this vow because with Senate Dems approaching 60, the stakes are excruciatingly high.

Asked if Specter would have Rendell’s backing if he became a Dem, Ardo said: "If he became the Democratic candidate he would have the governor’s support."

Specter's path to reelection are tough unless he switches. He stays a Republican, he'll get ousted in a primary. He becomes an independent, pledging to caucus with the GOP, and he's squeezed between the Republican nominee and a Democratic one backed by the party machinery and fundraising capabilities. Where exactly would Specter get his cash? And while muscle could provide him with desperately needed organization, labor doesn't help much in the direct fundraising front.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/18/710242/-PA-Sen:-Gov.-Rendell-pledges-support-for-Dem-candidate

[JimGinPA]

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