John Baer: Energizer Bunny has nothing on Arlen

NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

CHATTING up the state's ultimate pol, Arlen Specter, before he addresses a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon in Harrisburg, I ask if he knows anyone else who has run for five elective offices, including the presidency.

He can't think of anyone.

He ran with varying levels of success for district attorney, mayor, governor, senator and president (in 1995 but dropping out before the '96 primaries).

As he approaches his 79th birthday (Feb. 12, same as Lincoln, probably on purpose), he's gearing up for yet another campaign - his re-election bid to the Senate next year.

He's in his fifth term. No other Pennsylvanian served so long.

I tell him I can find only one other pol with his electoral diversity.

Former guv and current California Attorney General Jerry Brown (aka "Gov. Moonbeam," so nicknamed for once advocating a California space academy) also ran for six offices: governor, California secretary of state, Oakland mayor, senator, president and attorney general.

"Maybe I should run for attorney general of Pennsylvania," says Specter.

But during Press Club remarks he reprises our chat, leaving out the elective offices part, and launches into a story about when he was 3 years old and his father took him to meet the sheriff of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Specter had his picture taken wearing a badge and that gets him in "Ripley's Believe it Not" in 1933 as the world's youngest "deputy sheriff" and maybe that breaks the tie with Brown.

For the record, Specter's official Senate biography says this happened when he was 4 and made the 1934 "Ripley's."

Still. This is quintessential Arlen. Always looking to grab the upper hand, even on a non-

issue against somebody nicknamed "Gov. Moonbeam."

(Editor's note: Harold Stassen ran for six offices, including Philadelphia mayor.)

Specter is a piece of work: alternately fierce and funny, exact and evasive, liberal and conservative, anything to survive.

(The trait applies physically, too. He has survived brain tumors, bypass surgery and two bouts with cancer and chemo.)

His ability at elasticity was in high relief during Press Club questions.

He was rubbery on confirming U.S. Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, whether he'd join Senate Republicans if they filibuster the proposed $825 billion economic-stimulus package and how he might vote on the controversial Employee Free Choice Act on formation of unions.

On this last issue, which holds potential to greatly annoy two key constituencies, big business and labor, he punted when pressed, saying that it's a "big issue" with "serious implications" and that he's learned not to answer questions under pressure, "on one foot or on horseback."

You ride 'em, cowboy.

He did say that using stimulus money for new grass on the National Mall doesn't seem necessary and that he expects an expansion of stem-cell research (a pet issue) under the Obama administration.

But about the only questions he answered with certainty were those pertaining to his re-election bid.

Asked if he worries about voters' getting "Specter fatigue," he said, "No . . . and anyway, you invited me; I didn't volunteer to come here."

Asked if, given the direction of the state and nation, he'd consider changing parties to run as a Democrat, he also said, "no."

He added that Gov. Ed told him if he'd become a Democrat, the Guv would raise money for him, but Specter told the Guv, "If I became a Democrat, I wouldn't have to raise any money."

Asked about the exchange, Rendell press secretary Chuck Ardo said in an e-mail, "The governor is always interested in attracting new talent to the Democratic side of the aisle, even more so when that talent is proven and time-tested."

For the record, Specter used to be a Democrat, and Rendell used to work for him.

Snarlin' Arlen? Darlin' Arlen? Take your pick.

For me, he remains just Arlen - even after all these years. *

Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.

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CORRECTION:

California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown has run for six elective offices, not five as reported in a John Baer column yesterday. In addition to running for Oakland mayor, U.S. Senate, president, governor and attorney general, Brown also ran for and served as California Secretary of State in the 1970's.