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Friday, May 14, 2010

Election 2010: Specter & Rendell Slam Sestak's On Ad

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter and Gov. Rendell took some shots at U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak this morning, in advance of next Tuesday's primary election. They were both clearly peeved by a Sestak campaign ad that features video of Specter saying he switched from Republican to Democrat in order to be re-elected. The ad says Specter's switch was made "to save one job...his."

Specter insisted that his vote for the stimulus package proposed by President Obama had helped save and create jobs in Pennsylvania, while putting at risk his political career. Specter is seeking a sixth, six-year term in the Senate. Rendell said he was offended by the Sestak ad. "He wasn't thinking about saving his job," Rendell said of Specter. "He was risking his job." Rendell said state statistics show there are 20,558 people currently working on jobs created by the stimulus package. "So don't tell me Arlen Specter doesn't create jobs by taking a risky vote," Rendell said.

Specter said he could have glided to a sixth term if he had voted against the stimulus package and remained in the GOP. "If I had stayed with the obstructionist Republican caucus, I would have had no problem," Specter said. "This claim of opportunism is outlandish in the context that I had a clear path to re-election if I had not voted for the stimulus package."

Rendell and Specter spoke as the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity endorsed Specter in the offices of a Center City law firm. Specter said it vital for city voters, especially the African-American community, to turn out on Tuesday. Mayor Nutter agreed. "This is a serious and important election," Nutter said. "We've got an open seat for governor. We've got the hottest race for Senate in the country."

A visit by Obama would probably help drive that turn-out. But the White House has no plans to come to Philadelphia for Specter, who said he did not find that disappointing. Specter noted that he is running a "dynamic commercial" with Obama praising him and Vice President Joe Biden appears in his radio ads. "He's done everything I asked," Specter said of Obama. "We've gotten terrific support from the White House."

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 12:42 PM Permalink | 43 comments

Comments

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:06 PM, 05/14/2010

Maybe Obama isn't campaigning for him this weekend because he wasn't willing to OUTRIGHT LIE to Pennsylvanians like our Governor and Mayor have found so easy to do. Specter became a Democrat when the polls showed that he was going to be creamed by Toomey in the Republican primary.

— MtAirygrl

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:09 PM, 05/14/2010

Specter = Benedict Arnold. Sestack = Puppet of Pelosi, Reid, Dodd & Frank.

— Citizenc92

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:17 PM, 05/14/2010

Rendell and Specter should both retire and get a life. There rhetoric is tiresome.

— LibertyoverTyranny

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:20 PM, 05/14/2010

Obama is a loser for anyone he endorses, he is 0 for 3 on candidates he has endorsed in person.

— BFlint

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:29 PM, 05/14/2010

Sestack has my vote. Goodbye Specter

— tomc

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:33 PM, 05/14/2010

Oh good God. "I could have stayed with the Republicans and glided to a sixth term." Tell me he actually said that. The old coot has totally lost touch with reality.

— Montco PA Dem

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:34 PM, 05/14/2010

Rendell was wrong on Hillary Clinton and will be wrong on Arlen Specter. It's all the old boys network with the Gov. Specter is not a Democrat. Vote Sestak.

— PattyB23

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:38 PM, 05/14/2010

Desperation move! Two pea's of a pod there...

— dogman5

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:45 PM, 05/14/2010

What utter BS. So Arlen is saying that had he voted against stimulus he would have been able to beat Toomey hands down. Don't think so. Truth is he was worried about Toomey and figured that when he switched parties and got Obama and the Democratic machine to back him he'd glide to the Democratic nomination instead. He didn't count on Sestak bucking party orders. That's the truth.

— Venerable_Bede

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:57 PM, 05/14/2010

You people can't be serious. Sestak is a fool and only a fool would vote for him. You really want to vote for someone in the Pelosi camp? Come on.

— Echo

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:02 PM, 05/14/2010

Good 'ole Aaaaaaarlen.. Still peddling the single-bullet theory...

— USAFirst1

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:03 PM, 05/14/2010

I think I'll write-in John Street.

— Briarwood

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:04 PM, 05/14/2010

Why would Rendell stick up for ole' Arlen? Would he have done this if ole' Arlen were a Republican, not? Of course ole' Arlen switch to save his job. It's so obvious. And this little matter of ole' Arlen creating and saving jobs. Put him on a late night comedy show. What a joke. Where do these politicians get off claiming they create jobs for us. And I mean a "real" job. Voters have to stop being taken in by these lies from both parties. Sestak will most likely be a hack also. Nothing ever changes with these people.

— teksys

Comment removed.

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About The Philly Clout Team

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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