PA Sen. Bob Casey: Sestak Would Be “Very Competitive” Against Specter
Wow, so this should give newly-minted Dem Arlen Specter some serious agita: His fellow Pennsylvania Dem Senator, Bob Casey, said in an interview that if Joe Sestak challenges Specter in a primary, he will be a “very strong candidate” and be “very, very competitive.”
The claim from Casey, who has endorsed Specter, suggests that the Dem establishment is all too aware of how formidable a challenge Sestak could pose to Specter, despite the support he enjoys from the White House, Harry Reid, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Casey made the assertion last week during an interview with WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR affiliate, that passed unnoticed. Sestak’s campaign tracked down the interview and sent me a transcript, which WHYY confirmed is genuine. Here’s what Casey said:
“If Congressman Sestak runs, the next option is to have a primary that’s not … divisive and acrimonious so that we have a split in the party going in to the general election. That’s my hope. But he’s a very strong candidate and if he runs it’ll be a very, very competitive primary.”
That’s the first acknowledgment from one of Specter’s Dem establishment supporters of the challenge Sestak poses, and could give a boost to Sestak by helping with fundraising and persuading insiders that his candidacy is real. Audio when I have it.
Update: Here’s the audio:
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“could give a boost (not jolt) to Sestak’s candidacy”
Methinks a little bit better of Bob Casey this morning.
Beltway Dems have to make nice with Specter ‘cuz they need his vote. Casey, not so much.
In the words of Josh Lyman- “Game On.”
I think a bigger question is whether this indicates a lack of support among Democrats for Specter. As you’ve said Greg, there’s support by the White House and then there’s SUPPORT. Same with the rest of the Democrats. I’m inclined to think that what Casey said doesn’t mean anything but that he said anything at all may betray his unofficial thoughts.
Casey knows well that a statewide race is more than just what the experts and party bigwigs think.
Two things.
1. Casey also said he basically hopes Sestak doesn’t run.
2. Casey also reaffirmed his backing of Specter in the primary regardless.
Just pointing that out.
I’m in PA and it will be Specter’s job to convince me that I should not support Sestak, who is a couple of decades younger than Specter and has a fine enough record as a Democrat. I don’t mind if Specter chooses a marriage of convenience for a while, but I don’t know if I want to vote myself into one. The guy’s so old, I’d feel like a golddigger anyway. I’d rather have a Democratic candidate and Senator who I knew had some staying power.
Acknowledging that Sestak would be a strong candidate, is very different from endorsing him as a preferred candidate.
Besides, a “very, very competitive primary” is going to be very, very expensive to the Democratic party. We are talking millions of dollars that won’t get spent against Republicans.
Specter would have to be really terrible to justify that kind of expense just to put in a Blue Dog Dem like Sestak in.
We could win a few extra Senate seats if we spent those millions in other states.
Think about all the money that was needed in a close race like for Franken. Imagine if Franken had an extra half-million for the General and the race wasn’t close enough to require a recount. We’d wouldn’t have lost 6 months of a Dem Senator.
This is the WRONG primary race for Dems to spend their time, money and energy.
Plus, we lose the $7 million invested into Sestak for the house seat (that could easily flip back to GOP).
David Diano:
Do you trust Specter as a reliable vote past January 2011? I don’t.
Daniel:
The support for Specter is a mile wide and an inch deep. If the race is close, like I expect it to be, come primary time, the only Democrat you might see actually make appearances for Specter is Rendell(cause “Easy” Ed loves the limelight). Obama won’t actually make campaign appearances for Specter. Besides, if Sestak gets in, he is going to win. Bank on it. Specter just has too much baggage. And remember who primary voters tend to be. The party hardcore. And the party hardcore don’t care for Snarlin’ Arlen.
sgwhiteinfla:
Of course Casey hopes Specter doesn’t run. If he did, it would put Casey’s nuts in the vice. If Sestak won, Casey’s prestige would suffer(if he campaigned with Specter).
My guess is that Casey is just trying to scare up some fundraising support for Spector with this statement. Which isn’t to say that the statement isn’t true.
Sestak isn’t a “blue dog” democrat. He’s proven to be a loyal liberal dem.
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Bob Sestak is in every way worthy of a senate seat, unlike Bush supporting Specter. Bob Sestak would offer a progressive voice and would be a grateful Senator well aware of the support that he would owe progressives, unlike Specter who has openly admitted to using the Democratic party to save his political career. If Democrats in Pennsylvania want a real, reliable Democratic progressive-moderate for their Senator, they should give their support and their small campaign contributions to Bob Sestak.