Analyst: Primary no ‘cakewalk’ for Specter

If Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) does indeed run for Senate, Pennsylvania Democrats should get ready for a contentious and exciting primary—and one that could get vicious.

That’s the message of Franklin & Marshall College political analyst G. Terry Madonna.

“I think we could have a real donnybrook of a contest, and I think it could get pretty tense and pretty difficult,” Madonna told pa2010.com after the news broke that Sestak plans to run against Senator…

May 27, 2009 at 6:10 pm | Comments (2)

Still behind Specter, Pa. Dems await ’spirited primary’

Now that Pennsylvania Democrats are confronting the prospect of a truly competitive Senate primary, things just got more difficult for Gov. Ed Rendell and his newly-Democratic friend Senator Arlen Specter.

But party leaders say they’re not panicking, even as they continued their implied support for Specter.

“Everybody’s going to look forward to a very spirited primary next year,” Abe Amoros, the party’s political director, told pa2010.com Wednesday evening.

“The party has made its position clear…

May 27, 2009 at 5:40 pm | Comments (0)

Lentz waiting for clearer signal from Sestak before declaring for Congress

With Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) reportedly preparing to enter the Senate race, it looks like state Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) will get another chance to run for his Congressional seat.

But with Sestak yet to say anything publicly, Lentz stopped short Wednesday evening of declaring his candidacy.

“My intentions remain unchanged,” Lentz told pa2010.com. “I’m doing everything I can do to be in position to run when he officially announces that he’s seeking…

May 27, 2009 at 5:27 pm | Comments (0)

Sestak saying he’ll run for Senate (UPDATED)

Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has been telling supporters that he plans to run for Senate, giving Senator Arlen Specter the primary challenge he and party leaders had hoped to avoid, Democratic sources confirmed Wednesday night.

Talking Points Memo first reported Wednesday afternoon that Sestak was privately signaling his intentions supporter. A Sestak spokesman confirmed to pa2010.com that the story was accurate, but was careful not to say he is definitely running, signaling…

May 27, 2009 at 5:06 pm | Comments (2)

Report: Specter and Obama and DNC fundraiser

Senator Arlen Specter will join President Obama at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser for the first time, Hotline reports.

The fundraiser is expected to be held in Los Angeles, and will feature actress Jennifer Hudson.

May 27, 2009 at 12:00 pm | Comments (0)

Labor poll shows Sestak in better position

Most polling data since Senator Arlen Specter switched parties last month has shown Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) with a steep uphill climb if he decides to challenge Specter in the Democratic primary. But a new poll commissioned by labor groups shows Sestak in a slightly better position, with support for Specter beginning to soften.

The Fix reports that a poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research showed Specter topping 55 percent to 34 percent. Sestak’s numbers…

May 27, 2009 at 11:57 am | Comments (1)

Specter camp’s response to seniority attack line: It didn’t matter anyway

Before Democrat Joe Torsella called of his bid for Senate, his campaign made clear an attack line that’s likely to be used by challengers of Senator Arlen Specter from both sides of the aisle—that Specter can no longer count on the Senate seniority he has often told voters is so important to them.

Specter has said he will regain the seniority his new Democratic colleagues took…

May 27, 2009 at 9:40 am | Comments (1)

Opinion

GOP civil war? No, just a healthy debate

by Lowman Henry

It didn’t look good. The party had lost control of the White House and both houses of Congress. In the aftermath of defeat there were many voices raised urging divergent directions. No one seemed to speak for the party as a whole. There was talk the party was headed for permanent minority status.

That sounds like the Republican Party of today, but it was written to describe the Democratic Party just four years ago as…

May 27, 2009 at 9:35 am | Comments (1)

After an electoral sweep, Doherty eyes higher office

Scranton Mayor Chis Doherty pulled off an unusual Election Day coup this month when the Democrat won his party’s nomination for reelection while also winning the Republican nomination as a write-in candidate. Now, the popular mayor is rumored to be eyeing bigger things, with potential runs for Congress or Lieutenant Governor in the mix.

If he runs for Congress, he could find himself a surprisingly crowded primary field against Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11). Lackawanna County…

May 27, 2009 at 8:47 am | Comments (0)

The First Read — May 27, 2009

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Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

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Its official: Specter is a Democrat
Though he announced his intention to switch parties last month, only more recently did Senator Arlen Specter officially become a member…

May 27, 2009 at 5:30 am | Comments (0)