Joe Sestak: I "Intend" To Challenge Specter In Primary

Rumors that Rep. Joe Sestak, (D-PA) intends to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the Pennsylvania Democratic primaries have been confirmed, TPMDC reported today. The site received a handwritten note from Sestak to a supporter asking for donations. Sestak's sister, Meg Infantino, who works for Sestak for Congress, confirmed the report.

Specter is planning to run for re-election next year after recently switching parties to avoid a primary challenger in the Republican field.

Sestak confirmed that he intends to throw his hat in the ring in a conversation today with Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "The Situation Room." Said Sestak:

Wolf, I personally have made a decision that I intend to get in this race with one other item. I haven't sat down and had the time to sit down with my 8-year-old daughter or my wife to make sure that we are all ready to get in.

Sestak emphasized that he is not worried about clashing with the White House, although President Obama has thrown his weight behind Specter and has vowed to campaign for him. Sestak noted that he had not been contacted by the White House and expressed dissatisfaction with the administration's decision to line up behind Specter:

As I said weeks ago, Wolf, I was disappointed that the Washington political establishment had decided to anoint someone for Pennsylvanians. And so I said I would wait and listen. And I've spent the last weeks going around Pennsylvania to see if others felt like me.

Sestak also appeared on MSNBC's "The Ed Show". Watch the video:

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Comments

[chicagoexpat]

the best friend the Republicans have right now is Rendell. He's single handedly doing what he can to keep that seat in their hands

http://loomisnews.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/arlen-specter-to-join-the-wu-tang-clan/

[TakeTheCanolis]

Admiral Joe Sestak will be the Ned Lamont of 2010 -- hopefully with better results. To hell with Obama's corporate friends. It's time Obama got a jolt from the left. I'm sick of Geithner, Summers, NAFTA and all the Bush Justice Department attorneys Obama somehow hasn't found time to replace.

[Doofus]

Not really an apt comparison, as Ned Lamont barely qualified as a serious
politician when he ran, and Joe Sestak is, after all, an elected Rep in Congress.
He does have the problem that Reps usually have when they go for the Senate,
that they are well known (at best) in their home districts, and all their colleagues
tend to be resentful, Senators (& wannabees) being so 'high & mighty'.

[TakeTheCanolis]

You're correct that Ned Lamont comes from a business, not political, background. His father Ted is an economist who worked with the Marshall Plan after World War II. After five plus years of Bush, anybody from a family that believed in diplomacy had a lot going for him in the minds of many Connecticut Democrats.

The point of my comparison is that a liberal will again challenge a pro-business Democrat in name only. Specter is like Lieberman in that he is more loyal to himself than he is to any party. And now he has to answer to working people angered over the mismanagement of the economy. Since 2006, the economy has replaced Iraq as the biggest issue of concern. Because of Obama's pro-Wall Street stance, and his tepid support for The Employee Free Choice Act, this primary race will be seen as a challenge to Obama. Ned Lamont's primary victory over Lieberman in 2006 was likewise seen as a stinging rebuke to to the President at the time. It was also a wake-up call to elected Democratic officials who forgot Democratic principles. As I said above, Obama and many Democrats need a jolt from the left. If you want to send a message to Obama, send money to Sestak.

[mikekev58]

It was an insult to Pennsylvania Democrats, especially those who have paid their dues in the party, that Specter was embraced as the Democrats' nominee for the Senate in 2010. I have hoped, and am glad to see, that someone like Sestak would challenge Specter and the Democratic establishment. We are seeing more and more a betrayal by Democrats, including this President, on issues that many rank and file (and not just liberals) held as important, e.g., the truth about the torture and a true separation from Bush/Cheney policy in that regard.

We may support this President overall, but he needs to be held accountable, as he himself has said. Here's hoping that Joe Sestak will do that, and not simply by casting easy votes to show off his independence as Specter has done.

[live by the golden rule]

Yes, Specter will vote with the Democrats through the 2010 election and then, if he were re-elected, would be back to doing whatever he wanted for 6 years.
True, he will contribute to the majority needed to have the Democrats, rather than Republicans, running the Senate committees and the overall Senate agenda, and, given what the Republicans do when they are in control, that is no small thing (although of course Specter voted to give control of the Senate to the Republicans for many years--and of course carried their water, how soon the conservatives forget, to get Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court), but in fmr Admiral Sestak we will have a truly courageous and innovative leader in the US Senate. My guess is that if elected Sestak would be a star.

[robbep]

Things that make you go hmm. He boasts that he is not a loyal democrat and votes against the presidents budget, he openly supports Norm Coleman, he was for and now is against EFCA, and he does not support a public option for health care reform, and yet Obama and Reid assures him of their support for the next democratic primary. Their support for Spector does not pass the smell test.

[robbep]

Good news, Spector is a snake in the grass. He cld care less about the democrats or their values he only wnts to keep his job.Lets get on record what Sestak stands for before we support him. We just elected a tricky democrat for president and frankly I am getting tired of them.

[Caymus77]

Specter doomed his chances to win the Democratic Primary when he stated he was NOT a loyal Democrat. I about fell out of my chair when I saw that craven admission.
Up until that point,Sestak was stepping back from entering the primary.

We don't need Senators like Specter who only care about their re-election and not about standing for anything.

I will donate to the Sestak campaign and I hope other LOYAL Democrats do the same.

[k6007]

I'm in.

[hrholmes]

Anyone besides that old timey republosaurus would be better for PA

[jme-SD]

Go Joe, we need more Democratic Senators like Specter like we need a hole in the head.

We already have too many red state Democratic Senators and corporate owned ones that need to be dragged kicking and screaming to do anything that needs to be done to help average Americans.

[hrholmes]

or as fate would have it a leiberman up the a$$

[Angmorg]

Go Joe.

people out there don't forget we are allowed to disagree with each other, without being tossed from the tent.

[jb578261]

Joe Sestak is another Blue Dog Democrat, but if I only have him and Specter to choose from I'm going to have to vote Sestak.

[serindipity803]

I feel the same way - I think Sestak has a good chance - the blinders are lifting from a lot of eyes these days and corruption JUST doesn't work anymore.

[MED1025]

The Admiral has my vote (again).

[Citizen54]

Go Joe!
Let's hope the good people of Pa. get behind this man and support real change.

Too bad the President is on the wrong side of this one. (Makes you wonder....­.)

[roshni]

Excellent! Joe Sestak has at least two volunteers from our family.

[Progress08]

Thank god. At least now Specter will have to run to the left to keep the Dem nomination. I don't think the independent thing will work for him since the dems still control the committees.

[bluedog24]

Wonderful News!!! Joe Sestak will be a great senator for Pennsylvania. Arlen Spector's crass political posturing has worn thin with Pennsylvania residents and it is time to relegate him to the dustbin of history.