So it looks like the Next Senator from PA will be Tom Ridge

[WeDidIt]

Poll: Ridge Leads Toomey In 2010 Pennsylvania Senate Primary -- By A Landslide
By Eric Kleefeld - May 5, 2009, 3:35PM

A new poll of Pennsylvania from Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies shows that former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-PA), who is reportedly considering a bid for the Senate seat now held by Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter, would currently lead conservative candidate Pat Toomey in a 60%-23% landslide for the Republican primary.

Toomey's big lead over Specter in the primary polls spurred the incumbent to switch parties, which in turn created the question of whether the Republicans were guaranteed Toomey as the nominee, or whether another Republican could take him. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who is also vice chair of the NRSC, has openly said Toomey cannot win, so the establishment could understandably be eager for someone else. And if Ridge gets in, they just might have it.

Another key finding: In a general election match-up, Ridge currently leads Specter by 48%-41%, compared to Toomey trailing Specter by 49%-40%. The big question is whether Ridge's support is truly solid, or whether going through an actual campaign could wear him down through attacks coming from the right. (See an early sample of that right here.)

Link to TPM Story

So the Democrats get a 60th seat, but that seat is still voting nearly lockstep Republcian so it looks like the Democrats can't doi shit, then the GOP establishment brings in a ringer to break the upstart Club For Growth wingnut and throw the GE to the ringer with a Republican in Democratic clothing.

Arlen is a FUCKING BASTARD!

He's WORSE THAN LIEBERMAN!

[Romulox]

1. Thank god we set it up so that voters of PA can choose 1 of 2 Republicans!

[babylonsister]

2. Chill. The election isn't for more than a year. Anything could happen,

like Sestak running with the full support of unions behind him. The fat lady isn't even humming yet.

[Junkdrawer]

3. And there will be a Green Party candidate to split the Democratic Vote....

The Republicans will pay for the campaign to gather signatures - just like in 2006.

[LynneSin]

4. The Green guy was booted off the ballot for illegal signatures

And then stuck the Green Party guy with the bill.

[Danger Mouse]

5. No worries.

We need to run a primary challenger to knock Specter out.

[billyoc]

6. Sestak.

[immoderate]

8. Sestak!

--imm

[LynneSin]

11. Sestak is not going to ruin his career to run as an outsider against Specter

#1) Conditions were made that the PA Dem party would support Specter in the primary
#2) Sestak is a viable candidate for future elections - I suspect his 'threat' of running anyways is nothing more than keeping Arlen Specter honest.
#3) Sestak is going to have a tough time winning a primary against a candidate that would split the Philly votes with him. If Specter's hometown was anywhere but Philly - it could be viable, but Arlen would win that race. Same thing with Patrick Murphy of PA-08 and Alison Schwartz of PA-13.

[billyoc]

12. I'm reading that Specter just said that Norm Coleman should be declared the winner and seated.

I don't know how much of an "outsider" Sestak would really be...

[LynneSin]

13. If the PA Dem party won't endorse him - he doesn't stand a chance

Allyson Schwartz of PA-13 would have a better chance since she would get serious support from the Emily's List crowd (the group that helps elect pro-choice democratic women).

[Qutzupalotl]

7. Ridge admitted he hyped the terror alert level to benefit Bush in 2004.

That's got to count for something in an election. Integrity, y'know?

[LynneSin]

9. My two cents - Ridge, Specter and Toomey

Ridge is politically aligned more with Arlen Specter then he is with the Ideological Purists of the Republican Parties. I hardly see them backing him as a candidate when they have one of their own (Pat Toomey) as a candidate.

However, it would be a tight race with Ridge vs. Specter. Worst case scenario Specter (or whomever the dem candidate is in case Specter loses or quits) is replaced by another pro-choice, pro-environment moderate republicans which is really no net loss for us democrats. I never bought into the 'Filibuster Proof Senate' since that means we need people like the Nelsons, Bayh, Lieberman, Pryer and a few other moderates to start playing ball with us.

The worst thing that could happen is Pat Toomey wins this race.

Someone mentioned a Green Party candidate - I highly doubt the republicans will waste money with that again this year. In 2006 Santorum paid people to gather signatures to put a green party candidate on the ballot (Casey is liberal in every way except one - he's pro-life (not hardcore anti-choice though)). It takes a ridiculous amount of signatures to get a 3rd party candidate on PA's ballot (something like 2% of the top statewide vote getter in the previous election). Casey was smart enough to challenge the signaturs and the Green candidate ended up being way short of the required signatures needed since these 'paid volunteers' were just filling out forms and turning them in so they could get 'paid per signature'.

The Green Candidate had little financial support outside a few Santorum supporters that initially donated to the guy. After the fiasco the republicans stuck him with the bill.

I highly doubt that'll happen again.

[Egalitariat]

10. Specter will run away with it. He's pretty popular in Pennsylvania

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

14. This poll makes no sense. The bat-shit insane skeletal remains of the PA GOP pick Ridge???

Ridge, a pro-choice moderate like Specter, over their golden boy nutjob Toomey in a primary. Not bloody likely. The rapturist right nuts is all that's left of the GOP primary voters ...and PA has a closed primary system.

[alfredo]

15. What did Ridge know about torture?