VP Joe Biden Praises Specter & Sestak

The White House just released a statement from Vice President Joe Biden, calling U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter a good friend and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak a great candidate to take on former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey in the Nov. 2 general election.  Sestak defeated Specter in yesterday's Democratic primary election by 8 points.

Considerable ink was spilled over the issue of whether Biden and President Obama could have saved Specter with a last-minute campaign rally in Pennsylvania.  After luring him back to the Democratic Party in April 2009, Biden and Obama stayed away during the closing days of the campaign.  Specter repeatedly ran a television commercial with Obama praising the five-term senator while Biden did radio ads.

Here's Biden's statement:  "Arlen Specter is one of my closest friends. He has served Pennsylvania with determination, wisdom, and skill for many years. I was proud to play a role in his return to the Democratic Party; his votes to pass the Recovery Act and health insurance reform were courageous and critical to our success. I look forward to working with him during the rest of this year, and remaining in close contact with him after his term in Washington is finished.

"I spoke to Joe Sestak last night and congratulated him on his impressive victory. He will make a great candidate in the fall, and a wonderful United States Senator. I look forward to campaigning for him in Pennsylvania and celebrating his victory in November."