Specter’s seniority loss opens up an attack line

Now that Senator Arlen Specter has lost his seniority, there should be no doubt that his opponents will seek to nullify what has often been a key argument for his reelection—that his rank in the Senate makes him a boon to the state.

In an interview, Democrat Joe Torsella’s spokesman made the early outlines of such an argument clear.

“What does Arlen Specter have to offer?” he asked. “He’s got no seniority. He’s got a 75 percent voting record with George Bush and is a 45-year career politician. Where’s the appeal for Democratic primary voters?”

Specter’s campaign manager did not return messages seeking comment.

UPDATE 12:13 p.m.—Specter gets a subcommittee chairmanship

May 7, 2009 at 11:33 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Arlen Specter, Joe Torsella