Dean, Carville Warn Specter: Shape Up Or Face Primary

Less than a week into his tenure as a Democrat and Sen. Arlen Specter is already stepping sharply on the toes of party elders. Key Democratic figures warned on Monday that their newly minted colleague, despite having the backing of the White House, could face a tough primary challenge should he continue to oppose key tenets of the party's agenda.

"I'm pleased that he saw the light and decided he would be a better fit for the Democratic Party and I think you have to allow for his political views to evolve," said former DNC chairman Howard Dean in an interview with the Huffington Post. "But he won't win the Democratic primary by taking the position that you should not have [the Employee Free Choice Act] or a public option for health insurance... If he takes these kinds of views, of course there is going to be a Democratic primary."

In a separate interview with the Huffington Post, Democratic strategist James Carville was equally sour on Specter's recent party switch, calling the defection a potential "major event in terms of how the Senate conducts its business," but "a relatively minor event in political history."

"[Specter] was the least reliable Republican. So he will just switch to become the least reliable Democrat," said the longtime Clinton confidant and author of the upcoming book, "40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation." "I wouldn't try to make much more out of it than the political survivor comes up with one more act in a long running play of political survival... The one thing I will give him is I will give him some points for candor for being so upfront about [his switch]."

"I'm not sure this is going to have a great ending," added Carville, who has worked extensively in Pennsylvania politics. "He could get primaried, you know... If [Rep. Joe] Sestak runs, [Specter] will have to fight."

The remarks come a day after Specter, appearing on Meet the Press, insisted that he had not pledged to be a "loyal Democrat" as a pre-requisite for switching party affiliations. He also restated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, which he came out against while still a Republican, and said he would not support a public option for health care insurance as part of a reform package.

Specter's position on the former issue is shaping up to be the linchpin to whether the labor community would support him in a Democratic primary. And on Monday, a major official with the AFL-CIO warned that if the Senator didn't change his view on the legislation (perhaps, in the form of a compromise bill) he wouldn't get the union's support.

"Those decisions will be made by people in the state, and our members in the state know who will stand with them," Richard Trumka, the secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, told ABC's Top Line. "And if Arlen Specter -- he stood with them in the past -- if he continues to stand with them, they'll support him. If he doesn't, they won't support him."

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Meanwhile, another union official, in a conversation with the Huffington Post, noted that " both AFSCME and Teamsters endorsed Tom Ridge over the Democrat in [the gubernatorial race in] 1998," pointing to the recent discussion of Ridge putting his hat in the ring for the 2010 Republican senatorial nomination. "Union support for Ridge is not unprecedented in the state," the official added.

As it stands now, Specter's chance to be the Democratic nominee in that race seems relatively solid. The White House has committed itself to campaigning with and raising funds for the Senate veteran. And his poll numbers against Pat Toomey -- the only Republican candidate to official in the race -- are rock solid.

That said, in his interview with the Huffington Post, Howard Dean scoffed at the notion that other Democrats in Pennsylvania will cede the race to Specter if they believe he is vulnerable.

"You don't clear the field in a place like Pennsylvania," said the former Vermont Governor. "You only clear the field by merit. Pennsylvania is too big to have some of these people put your arm round you and say it is not the right time.... and labor is a powerful force in that state."

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Comments

[DCDemInsider]

You don't clear the field in a place like Pennsylvania," said former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

--

Thats right and PA Dems deserve the right to choose our Candidate!

People, this is about the Obama WH clearing the field so we wont have a choice.

From what Ive seen here, very few understand that Obamas pledge to Specter is the problem here.

Everyone but The White House says there should be a dem challenger to Specter.

That wont happen unless Dems kick up a fuss and aim it at the Obama WH.

Joe is dying to run, everyone has known since 2006 that he planned to run against Specter.

Simply, as a former Sestak campaign aide, let me explain, if Obama raises money and does events for Specter, Joe can't and wont run.

Forget what uninformed people are saying here, though we can beat Specter in the primary, we can never beat Obama and the pressure of a WH endorsement.

if Obama publicly raises money and campaigns for Specter - no Democrat can run a real race. No way, no how.

We are ready to elect a great new Dem from PA. The question is will the Obama WH let us do this.

UNDERSTAND THIS - WE MUST PUSHBACK THE W.H. ON THIS NOW.

If you care about electing a real Dem from PA, tell them NOW at whitehouse.gov that you want an Open Primary and for the President to stay neutral.

[DMM1029]

I am up to my eyeballs in Pa. politics. (As a staffer) And, the conventional wisdom here is that If Ridge runs, he wins.

[DCDemInsider]

Joe can beat Ridge.

[Doofus]

The PA primary is closed, so it's quite possible that Sestak, from the 7th
district around Philadelphia, could defeat Specter for the Demo nomination,
because there are a LOT of voters in that district & primary turnouts are always
low. Otherwise, the Republicans' favorite Democrat will get to run against the
Democrats' favorite Republican, Tom Ridge. In the general election, those with
state-wide name recognition always have a huge edge, putting Sestak at a
considerable disadvantage. Probably it'll be Ridge vs Specter, but remember
that nat'l Repos dislike Ridge because he's not pro-life. It'll be interesting, for sure.

[hamchunk]

So, there is this warning to Specter. How long until the DNC starts to give "warnings" to any Democrat that does not tow the party line in its entirety? I think the victory in 08 has made some Democrat Party members believe their own hype. I think we will now see the Democrats starting to eat their own and pull defeat from the mouth of victory.

[tonymnace]

Specter switched not for any great love of the Democratic Party's ideals, but to save his own political skin. He should face a primary challenge and let the Democratic voters decide if they want to be represented by a senator that rejects much of their party's platform.

[DCDemInsider]

tell that to www.whitehouse.gov

[lwaxanatroi]

Definitely want Specter to see a strong Dem challenge in the primary, but Dems don't have to wait for the primary to slap him down. Harry, if this man won't vote for bills backed by the party, why will you count his seniority toward committee chairmanship? Put him on the least desirable committee as the juniorest member and tell him he gets a bump up for every Dem bill he votes for. End of story.

[DCDemInsider]

tell that to www.whitehouse.gov

[Bianchi]

We have lots of family in Pennsylvania who left the Republican party this year and said. "we WILL NOT support Specter in the next election if he doesn't support President Obama. Can't be Democrat in name only. We changed to Democrats for a reason! For Specter to change political affiliations and not alter his views and voting patterns ....well...its just another Republican pig with lipstick on it rebranded as a Democrat"

[DCDemInsider]

tell that to www.whitehouse.gov

[RGKahn]

It really doesn't matter if Arlen Specter shapes up or not. The Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District Joe Sestek, a two term Representative has indicated that he may run against Specter in next years primary. Congressman Sestak is a retired three Star Admiral (USN Ret.) who retired in 2006. He has a great voting record and would make a great Senator from Pennsylvania. Call his campaign office to urge him to rum @ 610-891-8956 or write to him @ sestekforcongress.coms.com.

[DCDemInsider]

and after ou do that...

Email www.whitehouse.gov to tell the White House that they must stay out of our State's primary and allow US the chance to choose who our own Senator should be.

or call 202-456-1414 and give them a stern talking to!

[AnnfromCA]

Gee, the love affair is already over.

[j-rich]

Specter better shape up if he's going to get my support.

[frappe]

I agree. Specter should face an open primary. He jumped ship because he saw the handwriting on the wall. He's an opportunist and can't be counted on. His vacillations are legendary. One moment he supports this and in the next moment, he's opposed. He's just an opportunist who apparently can't be relied upon in any consistent fashion.

Why abandon Rep. Joe Sestak, a loyal Democrat with a great resume that the people of Pennsylvania can easily embrace and support? If Ridge runs against Specter, there is a real chance that we can lose that Senate seat. Why risk it? What has Specter done for us? He seems to oppose important pieces of the reform agenda that got President Obama and the Democrats elected in 2008.

Let's be pragmatic and realistic here. After all, risking the loss of a U.S. Senate seat is far too important to be cavalier about.

[DCDemInsider]

tell that to www.whitehouse.gov

[bigben1986]

If he cannot be counted on when it matters the most. He does not deserve the support of the democratic party. Why waste money and effort? He is still a republican.

[pewty]

Hopefully this dispicable sphincter boy will be shown to the door next election.

[eirrac]

I think Specter is just posturing. He's not stupid. He may well vote for union rights and a public/private health care plan even though he claims to be against those things now. He knows that otherwise Obama and the Dems will step away; he must have given them some "assurances," or they'd never have agreed to support him. And if he doesn't go support their major issues, he's a fool.

[AirForce Vet]

You are or you’re not. We don’t need any cloaking devices or cloaked individuals during this administration. No cloaking should be from the top to the bottom. I first heard of cloaking in Star Trek years ago. What’s worse than a cloaking device is a person that is cloaked. We don’t need that type of person. Stand on who and what you are. If you don’t meet the grade, then I say bon voyage. I give Senator Specter the benefit of the doubt, but the proof is in the pudding.

[DCDemInsider]

Email www.whitehouse.gov to tell the White House that they must stay out of our State's primary and allow US the chance to choose who our own Senator should be.

or call 202-456-1414 and give them a stern talking to!

[scotsw]

Deep thought:

It's not the right of a Senator from New Mexico or the President of the United States to deny the people of Pennsylvania the right to vote for a Democrat to be their next U.S. Senator.

[DCDemInsider]

good thought

Email www.whitehouse.gov to tell the White House that they must stay out of our State's primary and allow US the chance to choose who our own Senator should be.