http://www.hillnews.com/campaign/100803_specter.aspxConservative Rep. Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) aggressive challenge of incumbent centrist Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) in what some call the country’s toughest Senate primary could have a negative effect on President Bush’s chances to carry Pennsylvania, a Specter aide said.
Incumbent and challenger are engaged in a hard-fought battle for Specter’s Senate seat, and both accuse each other of playing dirty.
“The dirtier Toomey gets … the greater a chance Democrats have in Pennsylvania,” Specter spokesman Bill Reynolds said. He added that the primary could hurt Republicans in this year’s local elections, give a Democrat a better chance to win the Senate seat next year, and also have negative results in the 2004 presidential election.