Then-Democratic presidential contender Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was greeted by Pennsylvania's Rep. Joe Sestak, left, last year durng a campaign stop at Radnor High School in Radnor, Pa. (Photo by David Swanson / Philadelphia Inquirer / MCT)
by Mark Silva
Sen. Arlen Specter's bid for reelection could grow more complicated than he expected, with Rep. Joe Sestak saying today that he is "inclined'' to seek the Democratic nomination as well.
On Fox News Radio's Brian and the Judge today, Sestak (D-Pa.) said he is now more inclined than ever to run for the Senate in in 2010.
Judge Andrew Napolitano asked if Specter's party-switch to the Democratic Party last week, near the end of his fifth term in the Senate, had gotten under Sestak's skin.
"It sounds like you are more inclined to run now,'' the judge said.
"I am,'' Sestak said. "Actually you are right. I am:'' Sestak (2).mp3
Specter, who acknowledged that he'd have "bleak'' prospects of winning the Republican Party's nomination in his home state, stands well-supported for a general election contest with Republican Pat Toomey, a Quinnipiac University poll found this week.
However, Specter could face a close race against Republican Tom Ridge, the former governor, should he run for Senate.
And now Sestak, a career military man and second-termer in the House, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who retired from the Navy as a two-star admiral and holds graduate degrees from Harvard, says he's inclined to go for the seat, too.
Comments
Sestak, Toomey, Ridge. Any of them would be better than Specter. While I didn't always agree with the Pa. senator, I still usually respected his views and his intellect. But his party switch is all about self preservation. I will give Specter credit for being honest about that. But when a politician says he will not let his/her fate be decided by the electorate, then it is time for that politician to go. Anyway, Specter will be 80 soon and it is time for him to move on anyway!
Posted by: John D | May 5, 2009 12:56 PM
Posted by: John D | May 5, 2009 12:56 PM
John D, does that apply to Joe Lieberman too?
Posted by: Mel | May 5, 2009 1:23 PM
At least you know where McConnell, Boehner and the rabid wingnuts stand. It's over there in the minority squeezing the Dregs from their tea bags to get every last drop.
Specter is simply out for Specter and not for the people. Time for the opportunity line crosser to be gone. We don't need another RepubliDem like Lieberman.
Posted by: Hola | May 5, 2009 1:29 PM
Rep. Sestak was actually a 3 star , that is a Vice Admiral . His retirement rank is that of Rear Admiral because he did not hold the higher rank long enough for it to be his retirement rank.
Posted by: ken benson | May 5, 2009 2:39 PM
Joe Lieberman lost in the democrat primary. He then ran as an Independent. There is a difference.
Posted by: Willis | May 5, 2009 3:20 PM
I emailed questions from time to time to Specter. The only time I ever heard from him is when he realized that he was in trouble with the GOP. Then he wrote to explain his vote on Obama's bailout. I hope he runs so that I can vote against him.
Posted by: roy | May 5, 2009 5:52 PM
I emailed questions from time to time to Specter. The only time I ever heard from him is when he realized that he was in trouble with the GOP. Then he wrote to explain his vote on Obama's bailout. I hope he runs so that I can vote against him.
Posted by: roy | May 5, 2009 5:52 PM
If Joe Sestak co-sponsors the Employee Free Choice Act, and then runs against Arlen, he will be the next Senator from Pennsylvania.
Posted by: Forrest | May 6, 2009 9:55 AM
Let me take teh synical angle - Sestak starts thinking about running, but the DNC and the Penn Dems make him some promises and provide plenty of cash, and then he goes away. Just another angle.
Posted by: Terry | May 6, 2009 9:41 PM
The first comment was by John D expressing strong anger at Specter, unlike some of the others he didn’t casually mention Specter’s albatross, his Single Bullet Theory. This albatross haunts the discussions about Specter and Sestak, Specter and changing parties, and many similar discussions.
At this late date curiosity rather than anger would be more interesting. How is it possible that Chief Justice Earl Warren did not wonder whether Oswald could have done it all alone. How could the Cuban Government been on high alert from attack without the US media taking any note, and why would Oswald have many both far right and far left contacts? And why the deathbed insinuations of E Howard Hunt about President Johnson? When Johnson woke up to discover Castro was being blamed he could go along with it, or else risk the fact he had wanted Kennedy dead to become public? Did the Single Bullet Theory stop a nuclear war with Russia? Expressing curious questions to Specter, may get better answers then showering him with angry comments and questions.
I would like to take this moment to praise the cool calm style in which Specter grilled Attorney General Gonzales, and the firing of eight federal prosecutors, and suggest that Specter talking about history could further challenge Cheney’s claim that the ability of the government to keep secrets makes us safe.
Posted by: Richard Kane | May 12, 2009 10:42 AM