Specter primary challenger drops out (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Mark Preston
CNN Political Editor

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter received welcome news Thursday evening when the Pennsylvanian's only current primary challenger abandoned a run for the Democratic Senate nomination, two Democratic sources told CNN.

Joe Torsella, the former president of the National Constitution Center, is expected to officially announce his decision on his campaign Web site Thursday evening.

Specter and national Democratic leaders are still awaiting word on whether the former Republican will be challenged for the Democratic nomination by U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, a Pennsylvanian who has not ruled out a Senate run.

Specter, who has represented Pennsylvania in the Senate for nearly 29 years, renounced his GOP affiliation last month and joined the Democratic Party. His switch may help give President Obama a theoretical filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Specter gives Democrats 59 votes in the chamber. Democrat Al Franken of Minnesota would give Democrats 60 votes if his Senate race with GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is resolved in Franken's favor.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/14/specter.challenger/index.html




Not good news for everyone here, I know ...

[bkkyosemite]

1. Specter has been there too long...time for term limits and someone new.

[rgbecker]

2. So let me get this straight...

The republican Spector declares himself a democrat and immediately all the democrats in Pennsylvania now think he's the best democrat we can put up for election on the democratic ticket. All because he supported the democratic stimulus bill? Has he done anything to stop Americans from torturing? Has he supported universal health care without a profit surcharge to be paid to private insurance companies? Has he spoken out against the Iraq war? Did he support Alito and Roberts our new Gestapo judges? WTF?

[spanone]

3. arlen knows all the arms to twist...