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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Democrats Have Hands Full With Specter

Newsweek has a great piece on their website by Howard Fineman about Sen. Arlen Specter's re-election campaign. An excerpt.

Barack Obama and Ed Rendell were delighted when they convinced Sen. Arlen Specter to switch parties earlier this year. But now that coup falls into the category of "be careful what you wish for," because the president and the governor of Pennyslvania have a problem on their hands: Arlen Specter. Here's the problem: Specter is up for re-election next year, and he was promised the full campaign backing of Obama and Rendell--not just in the general election but in the primary next May, if there was one. Well, there is one, and it is shaping up as a fierce one, against Rep. Joe Sestak, who represents the Philly suburbs.

For the rest of the story, click here.
Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 11:43 AM  Permalink | 7 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:27 PM, 10/20/2009
    This will heat up almost immediately after they count the votes in the November off-year elections. And unless Arlen steps aside, it will likely get very ugly and divisive.
    — Montco PA Dem
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:36 PM, 10/20/2009
    Obviously Obama/Biden/Rendell have failed to recall one of the most important political principles - the lesson of "The Lady and the Snake." After asking the lady for kindness to save him, the snake promises not to bite her. Of course he does anyway. "How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!" "You knew what I was when you picked me up," hissed the snake as he slithered away.
    — justabit outside
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:46 PM, 10/20/2009
    then comes the question when he loses the primary will he try to pull a Lieberman and run as an independent? and where will obama rendell stand then?
    — commanderk
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:37 PM, 10/20/2009
    specter has long since ceased being a representative of people of PA and all about himself. this move to switch parties comes after he blatantly said if I wasnt a senator I wouldnt know what to do. Or even better..I am not going to let a republican primary be a referendum on me or my career..... it will be better for PA if he is gone.....
    — stevejones


7 comments
About The Philly Clout Team
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics ­– which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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Catherine Lucey
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