Pennsylvania Primary: Bellwether for November?
Specter, Sestak in final stretch for close Democratic primary in Pa.
May 17, 2010— -- As the nation prepares for a midterm version of Super Tuesday, one race stands out as a symbol for the current state of politics on Capitol Hill -- the Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania.
What was once a comfortable lead in the polls for incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter over challenger Rep. Joe Sestak has evaporated; according to a new Qunnipiac poll out this week the race is too close to call.
Both campaigns made their final push before the vote Tuesday, with Specter and Sestak hitting the road to rally the base. Both men are hosted events in several cities this weekend. Specter kicked off with a rally in Philadelphia Saturday, while Sestak visited Pittsburgh and Erie.
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Both candidates utilized traditional 11th hour strategies this week -- unveiling new ads and taking to the airwaves.
In an interview Thursday with ABC News' Top Line, Sestak said he believes these latest numbers reaffirm voters' desire for change.
"I think what you're seeing is just a group of people like me who say, 'Enough, Washington, you're broken,'" he said.
In a recent phone interview with ABC News, Sestak said that Pennsylvanians, "after being ripped apart by the recession, know that they cannot trust [Washington]. They want someone who would rather lose their job over what's right for them. It's time for someone who is in it for the people."
Specter's party switch in 2009 has received much attention in this primary. Sestak has said the former Republican's decision to turn Democrat was driven largely by Specter's personal motive to save his job. In an ad launched in the final two weeks of the campaign, Sestak highlights President George W. Bush's ardent support of Specter in his 2004 campaign.
Meanwhile, Specter unveiled two new ads of his own, featuring President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
The Obama ad highlighted an earlier rally in Pennsylvania when the president reminded constituents that Specter "cast the deciding vote in the Recovery Act ... pulling America back from the brink."
Specter followed this with a new radio ad on Thursday, in which the vice president says Specter is "one of the most principled guys I have ever known."
Specter was unavailable for comment for this story.
