Joe Torsella, the only announced Democratic Senate candidate of note in Pennsylvania, says that he’s staying in the race despite Specter’s party switch:
I decided to run for the United States Senate from Pennsylvania for one simple reason: I believe we need new leadership, new ideas, and new approaches in Washington. It’s become obvious that the old ways of doing business might have worked for the special interests, but they haven’t worked for the rest of us.
Nothing about today’s news regarding Senator Specter changes that, or my intention to run for the Democratic nomination to the Senate in 2010 – an election that is still a full year away.
How long do you give him?
(H/T: Englishlefty)
His wife gave $2300 to Specter even when he was still a Republican in ’04.
Honestly, though, I think Specter does need a primary challenger just to keep him honest. I’m not talking Club for Growth level nuttiness, but handing him the Senate seat would be a bit unfortunate (as in, we need to make sure that if we challenge him seriously, that our challenger can actually win).
Torsella was running as Rendell’s annointed… and Rendell’s promised Specter a free pass…
http://theplumline.whorunsgov….
…upon exactly how much ungodly whining Ed Rendell does.
If he goes too far and gives himself a coronary, Torsella will stay in. Failing that, I give it two weeks to when the first poll (taking advantage of the post-switch warm fuzzy glow) shows Specter about 15 points ahead of his nearest challenger.
Still, I do think there will be a credible challenger. Not one with a strong profile in the Pennsylvania Democratic Party now, but somebody who could plausibly beat Toomey (although not in a landslide). Who that would be, I don’t know, but I’m betting that while Torsella wavers people will be looking for the replacement.
Keeping that in mind, Torsella should hang in there.
I have read hundreds of comments on the Specter switch.
This 3 word comment is from Chris Cillizza’s column
Being a democrat, I cannot agree with it. But I have to admit that this takes the cake among Republicans.
Winston Churchill started as a conservative, crossed the aisle before WWI and then returned home around 1930. Is there any other prominent politician who has done this?
The GOP got Specter to move Right with a primary challenge.
Since Specter has shown he’s susceptible to this kind of pressure, why wouldn’t members of the Dem coalition use the same tool to influence him?
and Oxman is excellent.
I doubt he’ll stay in the race, but I hope he does for a while. Applying pressure from the left on Specter is important.
I was really looking forward to doing what I did in 2004, that is switch parties, vote and volunteer for Toomey in the Repub primary to get rid of Specter.