Arlen Specter Switches Parties, Will Run as Democrat in 2010 Primary
Republican Pat Toomey Had Led Arlen Specter in Poll by 21 Pt. Margin
Senator Arlen Specter and the Stimulus bill: political maneuvering or indication he wanted to switch political parties?
Many Americans, angry over bank bailouts, auto bailouts and misuse of TARP funds, weren't too keen on pork-laden Stimulus bill that was passed. A key player in the passage of the Stimulus Bill, mainly because he and two other Republican senators caucused Democratic to get the Stimulus bill passed. Pennsylvania's Republicans were none too happy with Senator Specter's support of the bill and according to a Rasmussen poll conducted in February, 58% of the Republican voters polled said they were less likely to vote for Specter due to his support of the Stimulus Bill. Since 69% of Republicans polled were against the Stimulus Bill, it is no wonder that Senator Specter's decision to break with his party and vote with the Democratic majority alienated his Republican base at home.
Pat Toomey vs. Arlen Specter match up in 2010 Republican primary not looking so good for Specter
Specter as a Democrat may give him a better shot at keeping his coveted Senate seat. In a Rasmussen poll released less than one week ago, pollsters give Pat Toomey a commanding 21-point lead over incumbent Arlen Specter if the two were matched up in the Republican primary. Even more telling is that Senator Specter is viewed unfavorably by Republicans Pennsylvania, with 55% of Republicans viewing him unfavorably versus just 42% of those polled viewing him in a favorable light.
These poll numbers, coupled with the dismal poll results in February, likely led to Specter abandoning his party and changing his party affiliation to Democrat. With poll numbers like these, Specter likely decided that he would stand a better chance running as a Democrat in 2010, instead of running against Pat Toomey in the primary next spring. Running in the Democratic primary in 2010 are State Rep. Josh Shapiro and former Philadelphia deputy mayor, Joe Torsella. Specter would have name a name recognition advantage over his two other competitors in a blue state that went solidly to Obama in the November elections.
Sources:
Rasmussen Poll released February 13, 2009:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/states_general/pennsylvania/specter_vote_for_stimulus_hurts_him_back_home
Rasmussen Poll released April 24, 2009:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/pennsylvania/election_2010_pennsylvania_republican_senate_primary
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/04/19/turnout_will_drive_2010_pennsylvania_senate_race_96053.html
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- RINO = Republican In Name Only.
- Specter has a liberal bent, and voted for the Stimulus Bill.
- Pat Toomey is a fiscal conservative and had a 21 pt. poll lead on Specter.
14 Comments
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He was actually a Democrat years ago, then switched to the Republican side.....I always thought he was more of a Democrat from his stand on certain issues anyway.
Nice work. Only he knows what is going on his head and why he did what he did. Time will tell.
I never followed Spector too much, so this does surprise me. But does the idea of switching parties to get elected or re-elected surprise me? Pfft!!
;-);-)
It surprised me that Specter changed parties but I hadn't been paying much attention to him either. Maybe if I had, it wouldn't have come as a surprise.
Once he found out that most were going to be voting dem and he would likely be out of a job, he switched parties.
I hate to say it, but I think the two party system has gone by the wayside a long time ago. Maybe I am jaded because in California both parties are pretty much the same, but it seems in the big leagues there is little difference there, too. In the end, most politicians will do what benefits them first, the people second.