Is Arlen Specter unbeatable for reelection?

[Omaha Steve]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/can-specter-be-beaten.html

Is Arlen Specter unbeatable for reelection? (Photo by Alex Wong of Getty Images)

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's party switch last week brought endorsements and promises of support from the highest ranks of the Democratic party from President Obama to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

But, do all of those endorsements mean Specter has an easy return path to the Senate next November? Not necessarily.

"Just because he switched parties and has the backing of the White House doesn't mean that he is a lock to win," said one senior Pennsylvania strategist granted anonymity to speak candidly. "He needs to find a venue -- either a significant vote or a defining speech that takes on the Republican establishment -- that will prove he is more than a Democrat in name only."

Specter's immediate problem is the Democratic primary, where Rep. Joe Sestak made clear over the weekend that he is not backing down -- yet.

"I'm kind of disappointed in the Democratic establishment in Washington, D.C.," Sestak told CNN's John King on "State of the Union" yesterday. "I think this last presidential election and certainly when I was swept in two years ago was about not re-establishing the establishment."

Sestak went on to question whether Specter is truly a Democrat and hammered him on his acknowledgment that the switch was primarily done out of political expediency. (To our mind, Specter's admission that he was becoming a Democrat simply because he didn't believe he could win a primary was a mistake from the start; voters hate process arguments as they reinforce their preconceived notions that politicians are in the game solely for their own selfish reasons.)

Sestak has made a career of running against the party establishment -- he mentioned in the CNN interview that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had asked him not to run in 2006 -- and, according to those familiar with his thinking on the race, he is annoyed that the same recruiters who were making the case for how bad Specter was two weeks ago to convince him to run are now lining up behind the incumbent.

And, then there is the issue of the labor community. Specter deeply disappointed labor when, as a Republican, he announced he would oppose the Employee Free Choice Act earlier this year. Even though he has switched, Specter made clear he still opposed EFCA -- the number one priority of labor in this Congress.

Andy Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), praised Sestak as "impressive" during his CNN appearance and said he would be meeting with him today, according to Stern's Twitter feed.


FULL story at link.

[ananda]

1. Go Sestak!

I really hope Specter is beatable.

[montanacowboy]

2. If Arlen continues his Rethuglican voting record

Sistek must run against him - why the hell do we want someone voting against the Dem agenda?

What a clusterfuck

[lsewpershad]

3. The question

should be , what do we need to ensure the election of a real democrat. Specter never will be a democrat and said so.

[w4rma]

4. Good. I want Sestak in. (nt)

[Aslanspal]

5. I'm an Obama man ..but this was a mistake

Do not know what the process was ..perhaps Biden had to get Obama to seal the deal and Spector wanted some insulation. Obama could come out and say that was this was one of his mistakes and spoke too soon but doubt that will happen...on the scales picking up Spector was good.

Spector kind of getting on my nerves a little bit with his big statements on what he is against...why not listen Arlene or offer compromise????

I am a firm support of EFCA..and it needs to pass to level the playing field.