28 May 2009

Sestak to Challenge Specter in Primary

TPM has broken the story that Rep. Joe Sestak intends to challenge Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Senate primary:
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) is privately telling supporters that he intends to run for Senate, TPMDC has confirmed.
It appears that all that is left is discussions with his family, who I figure are pretty much onboard, or it would not have gone this far.

I think that the family thing is largely a smokescreen for him pulling out if Rahmbo (Barack) pushes too hard.

This is an interesting race. Sestak is by no means a particularly liberal Congressman, but his pressure has already pushed Specter closer to the Democratic mainstream.

I support his bid for a number of reasons:
  • Spector is a weasel, and a primary challenge will force him to appeal to the Democratic Party base, particularly to labor.
  • Spector is a weasel, and even if he weren't this "clearing the decks" for incumbents is bad for the party and for the nation. It creates a sense of entitlement among incumbents.
  • Specter is a weasel.
In any case, I have added the "Draft Sestak" fund campaign to my Act Blue Page.

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