Out-of-state cash bankrolls Republican primary (Pennsylvania)

[UpInArms]

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/4063eebd8ec72

With the April 27 Pennsylvania primary fast approaching, U.S. Senate Republican candidates Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Pat Toomey have become the focus of national attention.

Several millions of dollars of out-of-state contributions have come in for both sides. After four terms in office, polls show incumbent Specter facing the closest race for the Republican nomination in years.

The race has become a closely watched, national election, according to Toomey campaign manager Mark Dion, who said that the added visability is due to the "national implications" and high stakes for Republicans in the state.

If Specter wins another term in office, he will become the chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee.

Specter is known in the Senate as a fairly liberal Republican, while Toomey is known in the House of Representatives for being a strong conservative.

...more...

[RamboLiberal]

1. I'm really hoping the wingnuts nominate Toomey

I expect this will help Hoeffel in a Kerry sweep to grab one of the PA senate seats. Then it's only to getting Senator Sanctimonious out.

[Sinistrous]

2. The only problem is

that Hoeffel has very little more name recognition than I do, and nobody knows me.

This is Pennsylvania, and the seat Specter has is a rethug seat. Even with all his faults, we had better hope that Specter keeps it away from that rethuglorobot Toomey.

[David__77]

3. I have a mixed opinion on this.

Part of me thinks if Toomey got it, we'd have better than even chances of getting the seat, and it would be bad for the PA Republicans, undermining them in more moderate suburban areas--many may follow Hafer into the Democratic Party.

But I'm concerned that Toomey COULD win, which would mean worse votes on many issues that are important--labor, civil rights, abortion and so forth.

We had better be prepared for running against Toomey, portraying him as a lunatic nutcase rightwinger versus our moderate statesman. But I'd bet on Specter comfortably.

[devinsgram]

5. I agree

I for one do not know much about the Dem candidate, only what I heard about him here. On the other hand I had never heard of Toomey either, until his ads started appearing on TV. I have heard though about Tom DeLay pumping money into his campaign and we all know what evilness DeLay is all about. If I was a betting person though, I would bet on Specter also. I would love to see us have a Democratic senator, but I don't like the idea of having Toomey and Santorum both. It will be interesting to watch this one for sure.

[MasonJar]

4. The pugs brought big money into Kentucky; they ran such false

ads that our only Repug guv in 40 years (until now, that is) repudiated the ads as lies and as venal politics. Look to Mitch; he always has control of repug money.