We NEED to pursue a Better Democrat to Run Against Specter in the 2010 Primary

[MadBadger]

Specter is doing this because he wasnt going to get out of the Republican Primary. When he says "The Party left me," he means that nobody wants to vote for him. Though things will be a little better then before, he still will obstruct our agenda. We need to find a better Democrat to face him, somebody more liberal, more progressive. I dont care what the party promised him, PA Deserves somebody better.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Exactly right. nt

[avaistheone1]

2. Absolutely.

Spector is going to be a complete wet blanket on the Democratic agenda and momentum.

We need a real Democrat to take that seat, not some wolf in sheep's clothing.

[DURHAM D]

3. Harry and the DSCC have already promised Specter no opposition. n/t

[MadBadger]

9. Doesnt prevent somebody from running.

[Romulox]

10. It means no party $$$. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Rendell will dissuade any serious challengers like he did for Casey in 2006

[vaberella]

16. Reid...cannot be trusted.n/t

[ErinBerin84]

4. yes

I'm not happy about the talk about not running a primary challenge against him , wtf.

[dubeskin]

5. Yes, but

It's definitely good to have him for now. Anything closer to 60 is awesome, and, in my opinion, I would rather have a moderate Democrat who will differ from the Party every now and then than a Republican we would have to win over.

He'll do for now.

[MadBadger]

7. It certainly doesnt hurt, only helps. But for the long term, we need somebody bettter.

[Thrill]

6. They agreed to not run against him.

[MadBadger]

8. Then Lets Field a candidate ourselves. We dont need the DSCC to have somebody run.

[msanthrope]

13. Yes, we do need the DSCC to win a Senate seat in PA.

We aren't called Pennslytucky for no reason. Sure, you can run some fringe, non-party person, but it will just hand Toomey the election.

[MadBadger]

15. Who says it has to be fringe? Any Democrat is to the left of Specter

Sestak should still run.

[Thrill]

18. He has the money to do it. But I assume he already agreed with this.

I would be scared to split the Philly vote. Allowing Tommey to win

[MadBadger]

20. They dont all run at once, so Philly vote wouldnt be split like you say it would.

I'm talking about the primary.

[LynneSin]

23. I lived in the Philly region for 12 years - let me share something with you about Philly

It's an extremely blue city (83% went to Obama in just Philly County and 60% in the suburban counties). Specter is the only republican that defies those numbers because he is extremely popular in the city. He has been very close to the PA Democrats of Philadelphia area too. Any mainstream Philly democrat (meaning they have an elected office) will NOT run against Specter - Specter is too friendly with them (along with the Delaware democrats too like Joe Biden).

If you want a dem to run against him you need to look OUTSIDE of the Philly Metro area - but then that candidate won't get the Philly vote.

And there is another major race in PA for 2010 - the GOvernor seat. With Specter not in good health, we do NOT want that seat to fall into Republican hands (which since 1959, the governor seat changes parties every 8 years - you can look it up). What if Specter passes away and PA has a republican governor? Then we're really fucked!

[LynneSin]

21. Any mainstream democrat in Pennsylvania will NOT run against Specter

Sestak is a Philly area candidate - he knows he can't count on Philly to give him the win in the primaires.

I'm a big fan of Sestak - helped with 2 of his campaigns. But Sestak is probably too friendly with Specter to run a challenge against him. It's the Philadelphia factor. Oh, and you can probably count out Allyson Schwartz and Joe Hoeffel too.

[msanthrope]

28. Sestak for governor might be interesting. n/t

[LynneSin]

29. I'd see Allyson Schwartz a better candidate than Sestak

Schwartz is the better fundraiser and a darling of Emily's List. Sestak is popular but might not be able to raise the funds as well as Schwartz whether it's for the Senate or Governor seat.

Some folks also talked about Patrick Murphy running out of PA-08. This guy is really well loved in Philadelphia because he was the only member of the house to refuse to vote to recognize the NY Giants as the Superbowl Champaigns (his reason - any self-respecting Eagles fan could NOT vote "YES" on something like that).

[msanthrope]

26. It will be fringe because who else is going to defy the DSCC, Rendell,

and Casey?

Joe Biden, Rendell, and Casey helped broker this. Forget trying to find any Democrat who has an actual chance of winning running in this race.

[onenote]

42. is casey "to the left of Specter"

[GreenPartyVoter]

27. In exchange for cooperation on key votes I hope?

[msanthrope]

11. Better Democrat that will beat Specter and Toomey? Forget it.

No, seriously. We aren't getting a more liberal or progressive Senator. It's not happening in this state. Anybody else who runs at this point will be a fringe freak whose main purpose will be to siphon votes...to Toomey's advantage.

Hold your nose.

Because if Specter had not done this, we stood a very good chance of having Santorum Redux (Toomey).

[mvd]

12. We have time to see how he votes on cloture..

and if his voting improves thanks to being free from the Repukes. Right now, I'm so happy that my heart isn't in searching.

[LynneSin]

17. Do you think Specter would switch without a guarentee from the PA Dems..

that he is the only candidate in the primaries? Why do you think Specter switched in the first place?

I'm sure there will be candidates running but I doubt any of them will have impact against Specter. The only one that might be able to beat him would be Governor Ed Rendell, but Rendell would not run against one of his closest friends.

I'm sure anyone with enough signatures will try running in the primaries but with Specter's hold on Philadelphia (it's his hometown and he is very well loved in this normally strong democratic city), it's an uphill battle for anyone running against him in the primaries.

[MadBadger]

19. Ive heard that there was a deal, but I still think its worth it to challenge him.

[LynneSin]

24. It won't come from any self-respecting Philadelphia area candidate

Specter is good friends with all of them.

And once you cede Philadelphia region to just one candidate - the rest of the state has little impact. How do you think Rendell upset Bob Casey Jr in the 2002 governor's primary? Casey Jr. was very popular statewide but not a Philly candidate. Rendell swooped in for the upset. Casey Jr. then won the senate race in 2006 because there was no viable Philly candidate in the primaries. Without a viable Philly candidate Casey Jr. becomes the 'defacto Philly candidate' since they go with the Dem.

BTW picking Joe Biden to be VP, Obama pretty much wrapped up Pennsylvania because Biden has always had close ties to the Philly Democratic scene. Rendell often referred to Joe as the "3rd Senator" from Pennsylvania.

I understand your anger and respect that you want another candidate. I'm sure there will be someone who runs against him that is not endorsed by the DSCC or PA Dems - but I highly doubt that candidate will be an established Philly area democrat.

[grantcart]

22. If he supports the caucus on the big votes there will be no challenger

That's how business is done.

And I think its a good trade.

[gauguin57]

25. Josh Shapiro or Allyson Schwartz.

Allyson Schwartz (US congresswoman) on Philly public radio's "This I Believe" (scroll down to Jan. 23 at http://www.whyy.org/91FM/thisibelieve_philly_archive.html ...)

http://schwartz.house.gov/

Josh Shapiro, state rep.: Really inspiring speaker ... and champions TRUE LIBERAL causes, like affordable healthcare for all. (AND sponsored legislation to ban hand-held cellphone use in cars in PA ... which I say rocks, because I'm sick of reckless drivers endangering my life).

http://www.joshshapiro.org/

[LynneSin]

30. Schwartz won't for the same reasons Sestak won't

But Shapiro is a state rep - he might run but not with the backing of PA Dem Party or DSCC.

The only way Schwartz would consider running is if Specter was anti-choice (despite the Anita Hill fiasco, he's not). Schwartz might set her sites on Governor instead. Hoeffel could easily win back his old congressional seat.

[Freddie Stubbs]

33. Shapiro has said he will not run against Specter in the primary

http://www.politicspa.com/Shapiro.htm

[ClarkUSA]

31. Spector made a crass move, but I'd rather "pursue a Better Democrat to Run Against" Evan Bayh.

At least Spector voted for Pres. Obama"s stimulus bill and isn't threatening to obstruct Team O's budget bill.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. Bayh voted for the stimulus:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00064

[ClarkUSA]

40. He voted against a $410 spending bill and is planning on obstructing 44's budget bill.

Link: http://www.indy.com/posts/bayh-speaking-out-from-the-center

[Hippo_Tron]

32. One step at a time, lets see how Specter votes on the key issues

The most important thing now is using Specter's additional vote to get health care done. If that happens, 2010 will take care of itself one way or another.

[BlooInBloo]

37. You've got the order wrong. Strong immediate Dem support for a primary challenger...

can directly affect how Specter votes.

[olkaz]

35. And the circular firing squad forms...

How about we let the Obama folks work with him a little bit?

/sigh

[BlooInBloo]

36. I agree - if for no other reason than to force Specter to support a bunch of needed legislation.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. What's wrong with Joe Sestak?

[saltpoint]

39. I think Arlen is en route to an unchallenged Dem nom in that Senate race

and that he is a likely winner in the general.

The media event with Obama and Biden and Specter is a show of force, in a way. It suggests that Specter enjoys very significant backing from significant higher-ups.

Message to other Pennsylvania Dems: cool your heels.

[onenote]

41. specter is exactly the type of candidate that gets elected in PA statewide

Specter will be unbeatable as the Democratic nominee, even if the repubs come to their senses and nominate someone other than Toomey.

A candidate with the progressive credentials that some would like to see would have a much harder time getting elected, requiring more resources (and thus draining away resources from other campaigns where Democrats have a chance of unseating a sitting repub or have a vulnerable Democrat).

I suggest that those advocating that a progressive candidate take on Specter in the primary reflect on who Pennsylvanians have elected in statewide races the past 30 years: For governor: Three repubs and two Democrats. The two Democrats -- Casey and Rendell, neither of whom would pass a true progressive's litmus test. For Senator: Four repubs and two Democrats: the two Democrats -- Casey and Harris Wofford. While Wofford was more progressive than most, keep in mind that he was initially appointed to his seat, not elected.

A primary challenge to Specter would be very expensive for both Specter and his opponent, leaving them with more limited resources to take on the repub challenger and, as noted, forcing the national party to devote resources to PA that probably would be better devoted to other races.

I'm not a huge Arlen fan, but we're talking about PA and in PA, moderate repub/conservative to moderate Democrats tend to rule the roost.

[Jennicut]

43. Specter became a Dem because the Rethugs threatened to primary him and force out all the moderates

We could do the same thing but I think now that he switched I doubt any top Dem will target him.
Perhaps in the future but Specter has got maybe 1 more term left in him. He is what, almost 80? And has had bouts of cancer. Specter could get one more term and then a Dem could run and easily win the seat after, ensuring Dem control of that seat for the next decade plus.

[olegramps]

44. I don't know if that would be a smart move.

He leaves the Republican Camp to join with the Democrats and then you kick him in the face and throw him out.

I know that not all of his actions are predicated on his sincere endorsement of the Democratic Party's principles, but I do believe that he is far more in tune with the Democrats than with the present day Republicans. I don't believe that would be the best move. I would be for supporting him as a prime example of the just how extreme the Republican Party has become in which some of their most senior members have been forced to abandon the party. His actions speak more powerfully than any words. I regard it as being of primary importance to castrate the Republican Party as you would a vicious dog.