Fresh from TPM:
“He intends to get in the race,” says Meg Infantino, the Congressman’s sister, who works at Sestak for Congress. “In the not too distant future, he will sit down with his wife and daughter to make the final decision.” […]
Earlier today, a Sestak volunteer and contributor received a handwritten note from Sestak himself, announcing his intent to run and asking for a contribution. The source provided TPMDC a scan of the letter.
The note says, “I am writing you as especially dear supporters to let you know I intend to run for the U.S. Senate…my candidacy’s credibility will have much to do with my fundraising success by the 30 June FEC filing deadline at the end of this quarter. Would you help me bring the change for the future we Pennsylvanians need[?]”
Infantino confirms that the note is genuine and that “Joe Sestak has written a number of similar notes.”
It seems that the DSCC’s efforts to keep the field clear for Specter have not produced the intended result, even with Specter seemingly becoming more comfortably in his new baby blue threads as of late. Perhaps Sestak was encouraged by a recent labor-commissioned poll showing Specter ahead by only 55-34 (Sestak’s best margin yet).
Sestak’s 7th District in suburban Philadelphia used to be a Republican stronghold, but it has veered sharply to the left in recent elections; while John Kerry won the district by six points in 2004 (an improvement over Al Gore’s four-point win in 2000), Obama crushed McCain by 13% in the 7th CD last year. While the GOP will likely have a bench of candidates to choose from should Sestak take the plunge, the emerging consensus is that state Rep. Bryan Lentz, an Iraq War veteran who briefly ran for this seat in 2006, will be the Democratic flag bearer with Sestak out of the picture.
(H/T: Taegan)
But am willing to be talked round. Still, “intends” doesn’t sound definite to me. He has left wiggle room if he gets a call from the WH.
But the PVI = D+3 for PA-07. That’s not bad.
Assuming Lentz is our candidate, it would be an Iraq War vet running to replace the retired Admiral. That should keep the military vote happy.
(though Lentz’s PA House seat would open up).
The potential upside = priceless.
(Keeping the leftward pressure on Specter, counterbalancing his natural DINO inclinations.)
but still don’t understand his rationale. Obama, Reid, Menendez, and the rest of the Dem establishment will be backing Specter, and Specter’s been voting pretty well lately. On top of that, Specter’s more popular among Democrats than any Republicans, has been for a long time, and is absolutely smashing Sestak in early polling. Even if a lot of that is name rec, how do you close a 40-point spread, even if you do have the better part of a year?
On top of that, it opens up a Dem-leaning but not super-safe seat. And what about Bryan Lentz’s State House district? We need every State House we can get heading into redistricting. If the GOP wins both the governor’s mansion and the House in 2010 (both vulnerable) they will control redistricting again.
Just not a logical decision, at least from a purely political perspective. I guess he sees it as a calling right now, or something.
C’mon PA Dems, get this right. Specter is emblematic of all that is wrong with DC, and it’s time for him to go.
Specter is retiring six years from now, barring something shocking. This will be his only term as a Democrat, in all likelihood. Sestak could endear himself to the powers that be and be primed for a clear field in 2016. Why cause a ruckus this year, with the White House endorsing your opponent?
and he’ll be watching closely.
it’ll be a shame to lose Sestak from the house, though hopefully Lentz will be even better than Sestak was.
So lets see. Sestak gets his tail handed to him in the primary after spending a couple mil and Lentz has to fight to keep the seat…..
then we have to fight to keep the state house seat which we desperately need to hold to control redistricting…..
Where exactly is the benefit in all of this???
All I see is a waste of resources that can be put to much better use elsewhere.
His entering the race is exactly what I’d expect out of a no-holds-bar, beat-everyone ex-Admiral. Now its Sestak versus every other elected Dem in Congress. Talk about balls.
http://voices.washingtonpost.c…
Sestak already has $2.5 million. I don’t think people realize how powerful Sestak has become so quickly. I despise the “waste of resources” argument. It’s not zero-sum. If Sestak runs in the primary, I give him money. If it’s only Specter, Specter gets no money. Others agree.
Also, Bryan Lentz is one of the most progressive Democrats in the State House, i.e. more progressive than Sestak. I’d be happy to have him as my congressman (I vote in PA-07). But there is another potential candidate in extremely popular State Rep. Greg Vitali. He represents one of the most conservative parts of the district (in Delaware county) and won 70% of the vote last time. He’s pretty progressive too.
This is where the netroots puts its money and effort in 2010.
Sestak may be outspent, but assuming he doesn’t relent (and I wouldn’t rule out a late night Obama phonecall trying to accomplish that) it won’t matter. His campaign will have enough to get on the air, and meantime it will have the energy to operate under the radar.
It’s hard to dispute that Sestak’s supporters will be more energised than Specter’s. And that means that he doesn’t need as much money.
Has anyone considered the possibility that Specter could retire? Hell, maybe he’ll run for governor. He could do anything.
I don’t like this at all. Sestak is not a progressive, like Nate has said he might not even end up being as Liberal as Specter will be in the Senate. It also risks a House Seat and wastes a ton of money. This is exactly what we DONT need in a year when we will be playing a lot of defense. Really bad job by Obama and Co. not keeping him out.