Who do you think should run against Arlen Specter in 2010?

[steelmania75]

I say Ed Rendell should give it a try.

[JPZenger]

1. Congressman (fomer Admiral) Sestak of Delaware County

There are plenty of candidates for governor, but I haven't heard of many candidates for the Senate.

[PRETZEL]

2. I suspect Joe Hoeffel may try again,

Sestak would put up a good fight also.

Not sure who from the western part of the state is thinking about it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Ed would be a great candidate, but I think that he would be miserable as a Senator

He enjoys being the top dog and may not be happy serving as one of 100.

[burning rain]

5. One also gets to enjoy more perks as Pa. governor than US Senator.....

and Rendell's a big fan.

[taxjustice51]

8. Great Mayor

I worked in Philadelphia when Rendell was Mayor.
He was a great Mayor.
Philadelphia had a great business climate.

As Governor, I'm not so sure.
The Legislature is so DAMN corrupt, it was a tough job from the get-go.
In Washington I'm not so sure what would happen.
Washington is Harrisburg on steroids.

He's great on a local level, you can't help but like him.

[blue neen]

4. It would be nice to have a female Senator from PA.

Suggestions? Does anyone know anything about Allison Schwartz?

[taxjustice51]

13. RIngs A Bell

Wasn't she a rep ?
From Phila. maybe ?

[Liberal813]

6. Would Rendell take on Specter?

The Governor would make an excellent candidate. However, the personal friendship between the 2 men goes back a long way, so it is doubtful that they will ever become direct political rivals.

[JPZenger]

7. Sestak said no, but he's being worked on

From what I've read, Sestak said he's not running for Senate. However, some Democratic leaders have been lobbying him because he would be the strongest candidate in a general election.

State Representative Josh Shapiro wants to run.

[JPZenger]

9. New Article - Dems Having Hard Time Finding Strong Candidate

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5senate.6852607apr11,0,6543230.story

"With a year until the Senate primaries, the lack of action among Democrats is hardly startling. It's the battle among Republicans that's unusually early. Still, the lull among Democrats comes against the backdrop of a rosy picture for the party in 2010, with a plurality of Pennsylvanians telling pollsters they don't think Specter deserves re-election.

An invitation to run from Democratic leaders in Washington hinges on the decisions of U.S. Reps. Joe Sestak, 7th District; Allyson Schwartz, 13th District; and Patrick Murphy, 8th District. All of them raised more than $3 million in the last cycle. (Sestak and Schwartz still hold a significant chunk of that). None of the three, however, has expressed a serious interest in running.

State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, met with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington last month, but was told to hold off making any announcement until more is known about what Sestak, Schwartz and Murphy plan to do."

[PRETZEL]

10. Not sure who,

Rendell does like being top dog, but he also loves being a public servant.

Sestak would be great, but that could cost us his House seat.

Hoeffel doesn't have the charisma necessary.

Not sure that there is a Dem at this moment who can defeat Sen. Spector.

[JPZenger]

11. Hoeffel's Having too much fun running GOP county

Hoeffel is in a rare position of power for a Democrat in Montgomery County. He is allied with a fellow commissioner who is a Republican (and who also is Chris Matthew's brother). They are running the county and pissing off the second Republican Commissioner.

[PRETZEL]

12. True,

I live in Montgomery County.

[demodonkey]

14. Rendell probably has the best shot at it.

But he is sooooo "clueless" about so many things, like the horrible voting machines we have in 50 counties in this state, and the need for single payer healthcare.

Unfortunately the "clueless" are exactly the type who have a real chance of getting elected.

[Richardo]

15. Given his reported change of party affiliation, is this moot?

Or do you anticipate a primary challenge from the Democrats in Pennsylvania?

[gauguin57]

16. I heard Josh Shapiro speak at a Dem. rally in Lancaster before the general election.

I found him to be a VERY good speaker, and VERY inspiring.

[RamboLiberal]

17. I wouldn't be surprised that there's a back room deal with Specter

to let him be unopposed in 2010 with the thought he retire in 2016. That may be part of the enticement to get him to switch.

[Liberal813]

18. What will happen now?

In light of Senator Specter's decision to return from the "dark side;" Pennsylvania Democratic officials, led by Governor Ed Rendell, will probably opt to support him, thus avoiding a divisive and costly primary battle.

[ShadowLiberal]

19. Joe Torsella says he's still running in the senate primary anyway

We'll see if he changes his mind. Sestak sounded like he needed to talk to Specter on why he switched before deciding if he should consider running against him in a primary.

In my opinion Specter's switch is great for us because it leaves us with all the power now if someone does primary challenge him despite the endorsements of Obama/etc for Specter. It leaves us PA democrats with all the power to choose our next senator, assuming Toomey is the GOP nominee.

Personally I think Specter will probably move to the left enough to acceptable to most PA democrats, Nate Silver has some good analysis on how much the voting patterns of party switchers tend to change after they switch.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. Don't assume that Toomey will be the nominee

A lot of PA Republicans will give this race some thought.

[AlinPA]

21. Joe Sestak