MoveOn moves against Specter
One of the nation’s largest liberal advocacy organizations, MoveOn.org , is resisting efforts to clear the Democratic primary field for Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter.
The political arm of MoveOn flexed its muscle Friday by releasing the results of an online poll that showed the vast majority of the group’s roughly 170,000 members in Pennsylvania — 85 percent — would consider supporting a Democratic challenger against Specter.
The group expressed concern over Specter’s vote against President Obama’s $3.4 billion budget just one day after defecting to the Democratic Party. MoveOn also cited comments Specter made in an appearance on “Meet the Press” last weekend suggesting he would oppose a public health insurance option that some Democrats would like to see included in any health care reform proposal.
But there might be a silver lining for the longtime Pennsylvania lawmaker: The MoveOn poll found that 90 percent of its members said they would support Specter if he chooses to align more closely with the president’s agenda.
“When it comes to 2010, our members will be looking at Sen. Specter’s votes on the issues, not at his party label,” Justin Ruben, the executive director of MoveOn said in a statement. “They’ll look at whether he stands with the people of Pennsylvania to rein in Wall Street, invest in a new energy economy, take on the health insurance companies and protect the rights of working people. Our members are encouraging Sen. Specter to stand up to the lobbyists and special interests, and they’ll be watching to see if he does.”
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