Specter features Obama in ad as Sestak advances

[whiteroses]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4378009

Specter features Obama in ad as Sestak advances

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Having lost his once-comfortable lead in the Democratic Senate primary, Sen. Arlen Specter played his trump card Tuesday: President Obama. Specter "helped pull us back from the brink" with his decisive vote last year for the economic stimulus, Obama says in a new 30-second TV ad. "I love Arlen Specter."

The image, from a September fund-raiser, counters Rep. Joe Sestak's footage of President George W. Bush endorsing Specter as a "firm ally" in the 2004 Republican primary - a stark reminder that Specter switched parties last year. Sestak's ad also uses Specter's own words from news clips saying he became a Democrat last year "to get reelected." Specter changed parties out of concern he might lose a Republican primary. But now, he's imperiled in a Democratic one.

A Muhlenberg College-Morning Call nightly tracking poll released Tuesday showed that Sestak had edged ahead of Specter, 47 percent to 43 percent. That is within the survey's margin of error of 5 percentage points, but the challenger's advantage in the poll has grown steadily since late last week. Similarly, a Rasmussen Reports survey conducted Thursday showed Sestak at 47 percent and Specter at 42 percent, with a 4.5-point margin of error. And a Franklin and Marshall College poll to be released Wednesday is expected to show Sestak's numbers exceeding Specter's for the first time in that poll.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama had no plans for another campaign trip to Pennsylvania for Specter before Tuesday's primary, dampening hopes for a weekend get-out-the-vote rally in Philadelphia. Analysts say Specter, a five-term senator, has been caught up in an anti-incumbent mood, compounded by his April 2009 party switch, which has fed into Sestak's chief narrative that Specter is an untrustworthy opportunist.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20100512_Spec...

[wisteria]

1. That is old news and now they are tied. Actually Sestak has lost ground. n/t

[wisteria]

2. I also think it is better if Obama does not campaign for him in PA.

In the end, this will all be decided by turn out. I believe Specter is the more qualified and known candidate. You know what to expect from his, Sestak is a mistery. And, this election has been about all the wrong things. Sestak never gave the voters a reason to vote for him other than his claim of being the real Democrat. I KNOW what Specter has done for our state over the years.