Specter and Sestak agree: Defeat Pat Toomey

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak took a break from a tough weekend of trading political punches to agree yesterday on one thing: They don't want former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey to be the state's next senator.

Then they found a way to fight about that agreement.

Specter said "in the unlikely event" that he loses tomorrow's Democratic primary election, he would back Sestak against Toomey, the Republican front-runner, in the Nov. 2 general election. Specter then lambasted Sestak for ducking the same question.

Sestak, a retired Navy admiral retreated to his military service, saying it prevented him from considering any option other than victory.

"However, I'll do whatever it takes to make sure Pat Toomey doesn't win," Sestak added.

Specter, who narrowly defeated Toomey in the 2004 Republican primary, switched to the Democratic Party 13 months ago, calling his prospects for a sixth six-year term with the GOP "bleak" because of his vote for President Obama's stimulus program.

Sestak has portrayed Specter as a politician who places re-election above principle.

"For too long, people will say one thing and do another," Sestak said before a rally on the steps of the Delaware County Courthouse in Media. "It is not just about politics or keeping your job. It is about principle and standing up for what is right."

Specter, speaking to union members and other supporters at Doc's Union Pub in Pennsport, said "this election is in our pocket" if labor activists and African-American clergy members push voter turnout in Philadelphia tomorrow.

"I went to a bunch of black churches this morning and got a standing ovation," Specter said later. "They won't let [Sestak] in. Why are they giving me a standing ovation? Because of what I've done. Why won't they let him in? Because he has nothing of interest to say to them."

Sestak accused Specter yesterday of trying to have it both ways in Pennsylvania on the issue of gun control. Specter has been running ads on newspaper sites in small towns, pointing out that Sestak has an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association. The ads link to Specter's campaign Web site, which has audio of Sestak saying he supports the federal assault-weapons ban.

Specter, who voted against the ban when it was instituted in 1994 and against extending it in 2004, when it expired, is not running the NRA ad in Philadelphia.

"My attitude has always been not to deal with the weapons but to deal with the criminals," Specter said. "Listen, my record as [district attorney] of this city and what I've done on the [Senate] Judiciary Committee is too, too tough for anybody to challenge."

The Specter-Sestak race, drawing national attention in this midterm election, is joined on tomorrow's ballot by the Republican and Democratic primaries for governor.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett, the Republican front-runner, has a significant lead in the polls over state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Democratic front-runner, leads state Rep. Anthony Hardy Williams of Philadelphia, state Auditor General Jack Wagner of Pittsburgh and Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, according to the same surveys.