Dean says Specter views on EFCA and public health care option won't win Dem primary.

[madfloridian]

From Huffington Post:

Warning to Specter

Less than a week into his tenure as a Democrat and Sen. Arlen Specter is already stepping sharply on the toes of party elders. Key Democratic figures warned on Monday that their newly minted colleague, despite having the backing of the White House, could face a tough primary challenge should he continue to oppose key tenets of the party's agenda.

"I'm pleased that he saw the light and decided he would be a better fit for the Democratic Party and I think you have to allow for his political views to evolve," said former DNC chairman Howard Dean in an interview with the Huffington Post. "But he won't win the Democratic primary by taking the position that you should not have the Employee Free Choice Act or a public option for health insurance... If he takes these kinds of view, of course there is going to be a Democratic primary."

Dean says in PA you only clear the primary field by merit, not automatically.

As it stands now, Specter's chance to be the Democratic nominee in that race seems relatively solid. The White House has committed itself to campaigning with and raising funds for the Senate veteran. And his poll numbers against Pat Toomey -- the only Republican candidate to official in the race -- are rock solid.

That said, in his interview with the Huffington Post, Howard Dean scoffed at the notion that other Democrats in Pennsylvania will cede the race to Specter if they believe he is vulnerable.

"You don't clear the field in a place like Pennsylvania," said the former Vermont Governor. "You only clear the field by merit. Pennsylvania is too big to have some of these people put your arm round you and say it is not the right time.... and labor is a powerful force in that state."

Specter may have been promised a clear field by some Democratic leaders, but that should not insure his winning the primary. If he continues to take views that are not for the people, I would be willing to support a good Democratic running against him in the primary.

[polichick]

1. Dean is right yet again. I can't wait to vote for a real Dem in the primary! nt

[Jack from Charlotte]

5. A guess on EFCA: A very minor change will be made and Spector will come around,.....

It'll save face for Spector, allow him to play the "independent guy" roll and change to a "yea" vote.

[polichick]

6. That could happen, but I think Dems would still vote for a progressive...

...in the primary ~ if one runs against him.

[Jack from Charlotte]

12. I'd hope so. Also, would like somone to let him know.... NOW....

that they're thinking of running so as to make a better Democrat out of him now up until the primary.

[polichick]

13. Joe Sestak has been appearing on a lot of shows...

He's considering a run ~ good that he's making the rounds and giving people a chance to get to know him better.

[xxqqqzme]

22. I saw him on Rachel(?)

a few nights ago and I was impressed. He certainly comes across as a strong progressive.

[Overseas]

25. I like him much better than Specter. //nt

[FLAprogressive]

2. "You don't clear the field in a place like Pennsylvania"

they're trying to do just that with the Casey/DSCC/Obama endorsement.

A shame that Specter's being so warmly embraced.

[polichick]

4. I don't care what they want - I'll vote for the most progressive Dem.

[madfloridian]

8. And we would donate to a progressive Dem there.

:hi:

[polichick]

9. Thanks madfloridian...

:hi:

[madfloridian]

21. That endorsement by Casey/Obama/DSCC should not have happened.

It smacks of the way Cegelis was manipulated out of the race when the the Chicago team stepped in for Duckworth.

It is just like the races in Florida where many of those leaders endorsed candidates without even knowing there were others in the race.

They are trying to do away with primaries. That is just wrong. That is why we won't get the real health care reform we need....they have taken over the races.

Recruiting wealthy conservatives to run as Democrats....shoving progressives out of the race.

Two articles linked, many Democrats treated like this.

[Political Heretic]

3. It's too bad dean isn't the DNC chair now. I'd have more faith that Specter would fall in line.

[madfloridian]

7. He's out of the national party leadership now.

And that is a shame.

[TheBigotBasher]

27. I would have more faith in that happening

if the person acting as Senate Leader was not so close to the views of Republicans.

[saltpoint]

10. A handful of Philadelphia-area Democrats I know will not support

Specter no matter what.

Dean speaks for them.

A strong primary challenger to Specter has to be field and funded and fought for. It does seem to me that it's a fight worth the fighting.

[madfloridian]

11. Who do you think would be good?

As I said, we have stopped all donations for a while...but we would be open to help a progressive.

Sounds like this is a leadership deal with no thought for the party membership. Could be wrong.

[saltpoint]

15. Hi, madfloridian. I'm going to have to defer to Pennsylvania DUers for a

closer look at this race. And also for the New York Senate and gubernatorial races.

Toomey would likely have defeated Specter this time in the Republican primary. He almost whipped him last time.

So politically, it appears that Specter enhanced his odds for retaining a Senate seat.

But that assumes that there's no primary opponent (there still could be, even if I'm clueless as to whom it might be) and it assumes also that Ridge won't get into the Republican primary versus Toomey.

We have the raw materials for one hell of a mess in the Keystone State!

I believe (hope) that in turn for the support of the White House in the Senate race, Specter agreed to support key agenda items -- possibly yet to emerge.

Here on DU I hope Pennsylvania folks will keep us posted on the latest scoops.

[madfloridian]

16. I keep forgetting to remember who you are/were.

I can't get used to the new you. :hi:

[saltpoint]

17. - - -

:hi:

[madfloridian]

20. back at you

:hi:

[Canuckistanian]

14. Know what? I'd like to hear Rahm's opinion of this

He's supposed to be the "attack dog" of the party, right? The one who keeps all the ducks in line?

What does HE think of the whole Specter deal?

[madfloridian]

19. Rahm chose candidates only to win....not for their stances.

He ran a good progressive out of the race in FL 16, and put in a Republican millionaire who had two affairs, is under investigation....the seat went Republican again.

Rahm's mess in FL 16

[madfloridian]

18. I did a search of various Democratic forums tonight.

None of them I saw covered this as of a few minutes ago. Not a mention I could find.

We should be standing up for someone trying to bring change.

He said today that the public government option is single payer. Before he has said if people flock to it and choose it, it will be the start of true health care.

I have not seen a blog cover it except here. At least not as of 30 minutes ago.

[DFW]

23. Ridge has said he's not going to run

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/political/story/Ridge-declines-PA-Senate-run/BvoqGpHAJkWsZrKAQNlcBA.cspx

Keeping in mind that a year and a half is an eternity in politics, I'd say that the chances that Specter's
seat stays in Democratic hands looks good for the moment. However, if Specter continues to vote Republican
on the Senate floor, his chances of being the one sitting in that seat look a lot less certain than they did
a week ago.

[Q3JR4]

24. Which is exactly how I feel about most DINOs.

Q3JR4.

[Bluzmann57]

26. Dean may be correct

But since he doesn't actually live in Pennsylvania and has no say whatsoever in Pennsylvania politics, I'd have to say that he doesn't really have the authority to state with certainty what our friends in the Keystone State will do. Let's hope that they put Specter out to pasture by giving Sestak or someone the nod for the Democratic Senate candidate in '10. But Dean can't and shouldn't really state that Specter won't win.

[madfloridian]

28. Why not?

Why shouldn't he say what he thinks now? He is no longer in national party leadership. They shut him out after all he did.

Why shouldn't he be free to speak up?

[Bluzmann57]

29. I didn't say he has no right to speak out

Calm down. We all know you worship, er, greatly admire Dean. But I never said that he has no right to speak out, I just said that he really has no authority to say what Pennsylvanians will or will not do. And as far as "shutting him out", party leadership changes all the time. Nature of the beast.

[madfloridian]

30. I despise when people talk like that.

I will just say bye to you. It is insulting, and I don't deserve to be insulted at all.

Now hold your nose and let Obama, the DSCC, and the rest of the leadership choose the candidate.They do it all the time.

When someone is deliberately rude, I just hang up on them.

[madfloridian]

31. If Reid, Obama, and the party leadership can strike a deal like this...

and as much as tell Specter he faces no opposition...then do not be rude and say the rest of us don't get to speak out.

Of course we do, of course Dean does...he is a private citizen now. Out of the party leadership..pushed out.

They apparently told Specter he would not be primaried.

I don't have to be in PA to be insulted by that.