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

[ChelseaC]

Rep.Joe Sestak seems like a nice guy. I hope he's for a public health care option--if he is I will support him.
I don't feel Sen.Arlen Specter is a true Dem.

[jafd]

Greetings from Upper Darby, Pa !

Joe Sestak is my Congressman. I volunteered in his campaign, will likely vote for him in any future election. Heard him for an hour of Q&A at a dinner for 200 volunteers. He is smart, very good speaker, thinks on his feet, Were I a sailor, I'd've been happy to have him on the Flag Bridge.

Local governments in Sestak's district - 7th PA, Delaware and Montgomery Counties - are largely controlled by the Republican organizations, who've been running things since the Year One, are competent, moderate, attentive to voters, and _not_ to be despised. In the Philadelphia media market, the war chest's Sestak's accumulated doesn't necessarily indicate a Senate bid.

With this political structure, the 'Democratic Base' in this district tends to be a notch more liberal than Congressman Sestak - or the average voter here. And when Sestak considers contesting the primary against Spector, he sends the message to the liberals "I am further to the left than Spector" and to the independents "I am not the minion of Governor Rendell or even the President".

But to Pennsylvania Democrats, the important 2010 elections are for governor and state legislature. With Republicans controlling the legislature and governorship in 2001, the districting was a Horrible Example.

If we Democrats can control at least one house of the legislature, and get the reapportionment done fairly, we'll look to the future with hope. If we elect a Democratic Governor to succeed Rendell, too...

[ams23]

He should run sounds like a great man, specter will not advance tru dem values

[Justin Satzman]

I truly hope that Pennsylvania Democrats vote for this guy and kick Spector out. We need true Democrats in the Senate.

[mesmorize3]

Just lovely, good luck Joe.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Good! Run. Pennsylvanians need to choose their own senator. Time for Specter to go.

[KipRip]

I live in Pa and I'm done with Spector, have been for years. RUN!

[mistlesuede]

I live in NY so I can't vote for him. But I will send him some donations. This is a very impressive man and I would like to see him replace Specter. We need an actual Democrat, not a DINO.

[alice09]

I hope he does run.

[lovemycountry08]

I really like this Joe guy. He is a vet and was an adamant supporter of Barrack during the general election.
He also comes out as a very genuine guy when he opens his mouth.

[Taz2]

Time for Younger Senator's, period. Time for term limits.

Go for it!

[PJay1]

Awright!!!

Go Joe!

[Billar]

Good thinking Joe. We here in Westren PA love you!

[basenji]

Though I don't live in PA, Sestak will definitely get a check from me.

Another Sr. that should be shown to the door is this one (below) who at his old age seems to have forgotten which country he serves:

"US President Barack Obama "can never dictate to Israel to follow a path that would lead to harming itself," Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

..."Israel didn't ask us permission to drop bombs twice on Syrian nuclear facilities. I didn't hear America scolding Israel for what it did then. Hypothetically, if Israel were able to get rid of Iran's nuclear bomb-making capability, I'm sure that America would not send Israel a chastising e-mail message. We have to give Israel the courtesy of [allowing it to] make its own decisions.­" .
The senator - one of 13 Jews (not all recognized as such according to Jewish law) in the 100-member Senate - said he disagreed with Obama's policy of linking US action against Iran with an Israeli limitation of settlement activity.

"I agree that each is a major problem deserving of attention, but one is not dependent on the other," he said.

Israel is a "humane democratic society, a bastion of decency and freedom. It is a vital asset for America.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1243346493164&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter

[masha2008]

hope dems support sestak despite obama supporting specter.

we need sestak in the senate.

[LeftLeanWing]

obama did and said what was necessary to get spector to Flip.

[masha2008]

let's see. it might have been because specter supported obama's recovery plan when no gop'er wouldnt. quid pro quo.

[rinpochet]

And a choice is what PA deserves, not being told they they have Specter and tough luck if they don't like him!!

I have already sent one check to Sestak and will be sending another. I live in California and will do everything I can to support Sestak over the DINO, Specter.