Republican battle in Pennsylvania primary threatens Bush's re-election

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

(mods - I had to trim the title down to fit the space)

It started out as a run-of-the-mill Republican primary. But Pat Toomey's challenge for incumbent Arlen Specter's Senate seat in Pennsylvania has turned into a civil war between the party's centrist and conservative wings, in which control of the Senate, and even of the White House, could be at stake.

A week before Tuesday's vote, the two contenders are criss-crossing the state, setting out their very different positions, in a contest which has dragged in President George Bush.

For the moderate Mr Specter, who is seeking a fifth six-year term in the Senate, his upstart conservative rival - currently a sitting Congressman - is "not far right, he's far out". To which Mr Toomey, pro-life, anti-tax and an ardent de-regulator, replies by calling himself the candidate of "the Republican wing of the Republican party".

The race, according to a new survey, could hardly be closer. Only 10 days ago Mr Specter enjoyed a massive financial advantage and a comfortable 15 per cent lead in the polls. The margin has now shrunk to 5 per cent among likely Republican primary voters, in statistical terms a virtual dead heat.

contd:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=513615

[markses]

1. Toomey win would be big trouble for Bush

Seems to me. A wonder that the party hacks haven't gotten on him about it. If Bush is lined up on the ticket with this lunatic, we might see a lot of crossover voters. Grisly.

[shockingelk]

3. supporting specter

by endorsing Specter (pro-choice), I imagine Bush is alienating single-issue pro-life voters - and not just in PA. It's curious that Bush endorsed either one of them.

[markses]

5. Yeah, Toomey has put Bush in a tough spot

Bush is forced to tip his hand on the real gold mine: the eastern and western suburbs, thereby taking the central repub land for granted. i imagine a Toomey candidacy for Senate will further energize the Dem base here, and turn quite a few moderates over to Kerry.

[The Zanti Regent]

2. Help Joe Hoeffel pick this seat up for the Democrats!

DUers, PLEASE HELP JOE HOEFFEL.

This has become the most critical senate race in the country. If Toomey knocks Specter out, Hoeffel can wipe the floor with him and if Specter barely squeaks by, he's mortally wounded. PLEASE GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN TO JOE HOEFFEL

Contribute at: http://www.hoeffelforsenate.com/

[Leilani]

4. I read recently that Unions are helping Specter

which seems pretty stupid, in my opinion.

I hope Toomey wins; I think that would help Kerry a lot.

[alcuno]

6. I'm trying to support interesting state candidates.

Outside of my state, as I am blessed with all left leaning representation. Thanks for the link.

[Politicub]

7. Ok. I gave.

Am I crazy? I've never contributed to a repug before. I hope you're right about the repercussions of Toomey winning.

[stevedeshazer]

12. You're not crazy

If I could, I would too.

[RobinA]

10. How Does Hoeffel

wipe the floor with Toomey? This is PA, fer cripes sake. Santorum, remember.

I don't know what to think. Root for Arlen so sanity doesn't lose another seat to a lunatic when the Pubs win in November? Root for Toomey because Hoeffel will beat him and Dems will gain a seat? I'm from Hoeffel territory, so I don't know what he looks like to the rest of the state, but I know what the rest of the state looks like to this Dem from the ex-13th District, and it ain't pretty.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

15. Nice perspective- sanity vs. lunacy

I'd say the Toomey win could bode well for Dems. And Bush endorsed Specter?!? Specter's toast! :)
Heinz will carry the state for her husband.

[PaDUer]

19. * has been to PA

what?-27-28 times already....They're planning on stealing PA this time around...All his appearances are by invitation only..Things are not good...We're in deep doodah...We can't let him steal PA.

[bleedingheart]

21. Santorum barely won last time the problem was

that the Dems put up a conservative Dem who mirrored Santorectum on the issues.

[Just Me]

8. Reading this stuff makes me feel secure,...

,...about my position that I am a sane person living in a really, really crazy world *LOL*!!!

:bounce:

[SharonAnn]

9. Given the Right-wing "ownership" of the Republican party, I

think Toomey should represent them as their candidatein Pennsylvania. That way people can make a clear choice between and out and out right-winger or a Democrat.

As much as I can respect many of Specter's accomplishments and his positions are often ones I agree with, His presence only "enables" the Republicans to continue the charade that they have a bone of reasonableness left in their party positions.

Get rid of Specter and let the Republicans be seen for what they are.

Arlen, it's time for you to acknowledge that your party left you a long time ago. Leave the Dark Side!

[RobinA]

11. Nice Theory

but we already have one winger here in PA - the voters have spoken. They don't care.

[osaMABUSh]

13. Toomey? Ok, whatever it takes to defeat Bush

I'm down with supporting anybody that hurts Bush's chances. Even though it makes no idealogical sense for a liberal Dem like myself to want a far right repuke to win in my state over a moderate setting up the possibility that a generally moderate state would have two disgustingly conservative Senators.

I guess George Soros didn't get the memo yet.

"No matter that the two have frequently been at odds on policy, notably over Mr Specter's demands for stronger civil liberties protection in the anti-terrorism Patriot Act, rejected by Mr Bush. No matter that among Mr Specter's supporters is the billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who has already devoted $12m of his fortune to help Democrats drive Mr Bush from the White House."

Like I said, though, whatever it takes to bring Shrub down.

In case you do don't Pa. it boils down to this mainly, liberal and Dem in the urban centers of Philly and Pittsburgh (you could throw in Erie and Scranton too) with a great expanse called the 'T' (geographically) of Pennsylvania which is rural, redneck, country western loving, NASCAR, gun toting, NRA, God fearing, and conservative - Pennsyltucky.

[Faygo Kid]

16. I'm with you

Whatever it takes to rid us of the plague of this Administration.

[VeniceBeat]

14. Vote for Toomey

Grover Norquist wants you to.

[napi21]

17. I forgot about Heinz. People from PA. loved John and love

Thereza (sp) too!

I lived most of my life in PA, and it usually votes Dem.

I really do think that what we saw in 2000 had a lot to do with people just saying 8 years of one party is enough, we want to try something else.

Ms. Kerry will win Pa for him!

[Turanga Leela]

22. Very true It would be smart for Theresa to be very visible here.

The memory of John Heinz is still very much with us Pennsylvanians.

My mom worked with him on some state healthcare initiatives, and all these years later she still gets choked up when she talks about what a great man he was.

[napi21]

23. I'm sure Thereza knows that, and so does John.

She seems to be doing the campaign trail with him, and if not every stop, she'll be there in the Pa. ones.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Turanga Leela!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Langis]

18. If Toomey wins

Doesn't that put another Senate seat up for grabs to the Democrats? Shouldn't we be supporting Toomey?

[RobinA]

20. Only If You Buy

that Toomey can't win in November. And I don't buy that necessarily. In the past years the Democratic Party has done little to nothing to help its Senate candidates in PA. OK, that's not strictly true. It APPEARS they have done nothing. I don't know what they have done or are doing, but as far as I could tell they virtually conceded the race to Santorum the last time around, as well as to Specter the race before that.

I have no confidence that a) the party is suddenly going to come out of the woodwork and support Hoeffel, and b) that the majority of PA voters have a problem with a winger, or should I say ANOTHER winger, representing them in the Senate.

[napi21]

24. Don't you think that's because it's really hard to unseat

a long term Senator? If Toomey get's the primary, that puts the general election up for grabs.

I haven't heard a LOT of positive comments about Samtorum lately. I do think we should be supporting Toomey now, but if he pulls of the win, we need to do a lot for the Dem to defeat him.

[PATRICK]

25. Clear message to slow witted conservatives

Bush wants patsies- not ideologues. They had as much against Lott and rowdy Conservatives upsetting the "agenda" as against Liberals. By actions and deed even against(totally!) appeasing moderates and bipartisan coalitions Bush has amply demonstrated that every other elected official is either a rubber stamp for the Emperor or a rival to be crushed- or a fool to be toyed with and lied to.

Check it out. And this is a bipartisan critical judgment whatever the radically conservative sympathies Bush/Chaney hold outside the job of ruling the world.

Not to harp on an ugly, unprovable(as of now) theory of mine that Bush would just as soon been mourning for the bombed out Capital after 911 dreaming of all the vengeful neophytes they would herd along easily into the Empire wars. No, I will not linger on that at all, nor his lack of tears for the fall of uppity Lott.