Joe Sestak will challenge Specter for Dem nomination pending family blessing

[WI_DEM]

Sestak: Pending Blessing From My Family, I Intend To Run
By Brian Beutler - May 27, 2009, 7:19PM
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) appeared on CNN moments ago and confirmed what I first reported earlier today--that he intends to jump into the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate primary against Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), pending the blessing of his family.


But so far Specter holds a wide lead (which given Specters better name recognition is to be expected)

The new Quinnipiac poll of Pennsylvania finds that Sen. Arlen Specter has a big lead in the 2010 Democratic primary against his challenger, Rep. Joe Sestak: Specter 50%, Sestak 21%.

Pennsylvania Democrats also have a 70% favorable rating for their newest Democratic Senator, to only 14% unfavorable, and they believe by a 64%-18% margin that he deserves to be re-elected. Sestak remains an unknown for now, with only a 27% favorable rating among Democrats to 3% unfavorable, and 70% having no opinion.

In a general election match-up with conservative former Rep. Pat Toomey -- whose Republican primary challenge scared Specter into switching parties -- Specter has a lead of 46%-37%, down from 53%-33% margin earlier this month. Specter also leads Rep. Jim Gerlach, a possible GOP primary opponent of Toomey's, by 45%-36%. Sestak edges Toomey 37%-35% and leads Gerlach 36%-30%, with the higher undecided rate owing to Sestak being less well known than Specter. And in a Republican primary, Toomey leads Gerlach 38%-10%.

The survey was conducted May 20-26, before we broke the news that Sestak is in the race.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/

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1. i'd love to see him beat the pulp out of specter....