Toomey Ducks Questions About Palin At Debate

Here's a curious example about how nationalized the race for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania has become -- moderator George Stephanopoulos of ABC News asked former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey early on in today's debate what role former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is playing in the election and whether she is qualified to be president.  Palin endorsed Toomey and a batch of other conservatives in a Facebook page post yesterday, after a brief geographical mix-up on Twitter.

Toomey dodged most of the question, not saying whether Palin is presidential material.  "I'm very grateful for the support I have from people all across the political spectrum," Toomey replied, adding that spectrum spans from other political candidates to "ordinary folks."

Toomey's Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak also did not say whether Palin, the GOP's vice presidential candidate in 2008, is qualified for the nation's highest office.  But he seized on the question to link Toomey and Palin as part of the Republican Party's "extreme fringe."  Sestak said he was sure Palin's endorsement was a "very coveted award" for Toomey.

You can read more about the debate in tomorrow's Philadelphia Daily News.