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President Obama, Vice President Biden and Gov. Ed Rendell last week anointed instant Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter the party’s chosen one in the 2010 primary.
But Rep. Joe Sestak (D.,Pa.) apparently resented the leaders’ subtle-as-a-baseball-bat message that he and others should shelve their ambitions for Specter. Ever since, Sestak has been all over the airwaves expressing annoyance with the “establishment,” hinting that he might run for Senate anyway.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee wants to influence his decision, launching an online straw poll asking readers of a dozen progressive blogs to weigh in on whether the left should start a “Draft Sestak” movement.
It’s at www.SestakPoll.com. Votes will be tabulated at 10 a.m. EST Monday, organizers say.
“The goal is to give the grassroots a voice in this debate,” said Adam Green, co-founder of the PCCC, and former strategic political director for MoveOn.org. “We’re already sensing there’s energy out there.”
Progressives are skeptical of Specter’s credentials as a Democrat, noting many conservative-oriented votes over the years, including one last week against Obama’s budget. Organized labor is disappointed in Specter’s vow to filibuster against the so-called card check legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize workers.
A large enough vote in favor of a primary challenge to Sestak could influence the decision-making process.
“Right now the biggest thing in Joe Sestak’s mind is whether he wants to take on the White House and the governor,” Green said. “In order for him to say yes he’d have to know there’s some grassroots support behind him.”
The straw poll is being done in partnership with Howard Dean’s Democracy for America and blogs such as dailyKos, CrooksandLiars, Hullabaloo, Afro-Netizen, Open Left (run by Philadelphian Chris Bowers), Jack and Jill Politics. Suburban Guerrilla and the Pennsylvania Progressive also are participating.
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Click here for Philly.com's politics page.
Just an FYI -- until John Morgan and his PA Progressive left the Democratic Party. Grassroots or net roots movements are great...but until Morgan is a Democrat not sure if he should be throwing a fit over Specter. At least Toomey's supporters gutted it out and took over the R establishment. Morgan just left the Dem party when he didn't like what was happening. Wait a minute...that sounds a lot like what Specter did himself! Check Morgan out for yourself here telling us that he left the Democratic Party: http://thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com/diary/1249/ and here: http://thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com/diary/1365/rendells-overreach— Rock Quarry
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