PA-Sen: Ridge Out, Will The Democratic Grassroots Force a Primary?

by: AdamGreen

Thu May 07, 2009 at 13:51


Breaking news from PA2010.com:

After much speculation, former Gov. Tom Ridge today announced that he would not seek the GOP nomination for Senate next year.

Interpretation: In the Pennsylvania Senate race, the Republicans are basically toast.

Dems now face a choice: Do they want their nominee to be someone who in the last week opposed Employee Free Choice, opposed the Obama health care "public option," sided with bankers against homeowners, said Norm Coleman should be seated, and declared he would not be a loyal Democrat?

And if they want someone else, who? 

Yesterday, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee partnered with OpenLeft, Daily Kos, Digby, CrooksAndLiars, The Pennsylvania Progressive, Keystone Politics, DFA, and others in announcing a grassroots Straw Poll on the question:  "Should a Draft Sestak movement be created to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary?" 

(image link moved to extended entry--Chris)


AdamGreen :: PA-Sen: Ridge Out, Will The Democratic Grassroots Force a Primary?

Sestak vote 

Over 5,000 people have voted so far. The poll remains open until Monday morning at 10am EST.

On the poll page, we have opinions for and against a draft movement, written by local and national progressives. There is consensus by all that Specter is bad -- and that someone else would be desirable. 

But one person questions whether it's worth the progressive movement's time, resources, and credibility to challenge the Rendell machine. Another argues forcefully that Sestak is not progressive enough. While others argue Sestak is the one person who could pull this off -- and that he's progressive enough.

Just today, in a local Pennsylvania paper, Sestak said he was aware of the Straw Poll. The more people vote, the more it will shape the environment in which he and others make their decision.

And my guess is that it matters whether the result is 55/45 or 90/10 or other. The only way any challenger can take on the party establishment is with overwhelming support by the grassroots.

So, the point of this poll is to allow the grassroots to weigh in on the most talked-about challenger to Specter, and help shape the political environment.

If you haven't voted yet, here's the place to do it. If you have, please feel free to tell others to weigh in at SestakPoll.com.


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PA-Sen: Ridge Out, Will The Democratic Grassroots Force a Primary? | 16 comments
there have to be more liberal pols than Sestak in PA -- tons of them -- (0.00 / 0)
-- what about all the people who ran against Specter in the past? Hoeffel?

even Rendell is probably more liberal than Sestak, no ?

that is very true (4.00 / 3)
Certainly he is not Open Left's dream senator.

But Sestak wants to run, and has $3.3 million Cash on Hand.  So we have a very good chance of getting him to run and succeed.


New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

[ Parent ]
I am strongly in favor of Sestak (4.00 / 4)
(and voted already.)

First, I think the events of the last week show we need pressure on Specter, otherwise he may not come through with the "60th" vote.

Second, I think Sestak is a solid Democrat, certainly well to left of Specter, Nelson, etc.  Assuming the Senate stays about the same (or even if we pick up a few seats), we will have two type of important votes.  First, the ones where we need 60: Sestak as a mid-Atlantic, mainstream Dem is going to go with the caucus.  Second, in the votes where we need 50+VP/51 votes like budget and reconciliation votes, Sestak is very likely to be with the Democrats while Specter is not.  This is the kind of vote where Bayh's group could cross us if they stuck together.  I think Sestak is unlikely to be part of it. (Look at, say, the cramdown vote and see where the bad Dems came from.)

Certainly he is no Wellstone, but a solid Democratic vote will be very useful even in a 60-Dem senate.

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

I agree. The critique of (4.00 / 5)
Sestak as not left enough is shortsighted.  He's a maintsream Democrat and has the courage to fight the machine.  Good enough for me.  He's not Sanders, but he's not Bayh either.
[ Parent ]
yet.. (4.00 / 1)
he's much closer to Bayh then he is to Sanders.

I'm all for the primary, but something leaves me wanting for so much more.

I'd almost wait out Specter's career in the senate and then hopefully elect a much more progressive candidate then Sestak, who's voting record doesn't seem to be all that great.

But what do I know? not much,except the fact that I've been disappointed way too many times.

[ Parent ]
i'm with you -- another Bayh is not a plus even tho Specter is worse (4.00 / 2)
this seems to be an opportunity for someone who won't be another conserva-Dem -- and because the entire state party and DC is already openly behind Specter if nothing else it would force issues like single-payer into the process -- instead of ensuring their absence.

Primaries are supposed to do that sort of thing, after all. What kind of choice does PA have now? And how are PA's needs -- and the country's -- served by supporting Sestak simply bec he's not Specter and has money?

[ Parent ]
I think Sestak is fine. (4.00 / 3)
We need to look at Sestak v. Specter, who is better.

The other options will not take on Rendell and Obama.  

Is there any reason to want Specter after 2010?

If he votes good now, so what?

I voted for Sestak yesterday.

I'm on board for a primary (4.00 / 1)
for sure. Is Sestak the choice because he's the only one willing to run who has enough name recognition to be considered viable?

Another question - isn't this poll vulnerable to getting skewed by Republicans voting? Will Sestak and his team will be taking that into account? I know the Repubs would love to keep Specter in office. Better a DINO than a real Dem any day for them.

Primaries are closed in PA... (0.00 / 0)
...but a lot of republicans switched over registration last year and haven't changed it...

I would think that many of them would want to see Arlen gone... They can't stand him any way, shape, or form and would love to see him get his comeuppance.  But, they may also enjoy having us be stuck with the jerk...

I think it will be a wash with the "convert" republicans...

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

[ Parent ]
Primary? (4.00 / 1)
Hell, yes!  We have nothing, absolutely nothing to lose!

Sestak's got the most money and has campaign talent.  If he's still willing to lose his seat over this, I'd jump on it.  A lot of us live close to PA... we can help out!

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

I live in PA .. (4.00 / 3)
the district next door to Sestak ... and I'd volunteer in a heartbeat for Sestak ... Specter has to go ... as you and others have stated ... we have to be realistic .. Sestak isn't Bernie Sanders .. but he's better than Specter .. and while he isn't the perfect candidate ... who else with $$ and his resume will take on the odds stacked against him(meaning basically the big wigs of the PA Democratic Party)? .. the question people need to ask themselves .. is do you wanna be Don Quixote ... or do you want a good though imperfect candidate with a good chance to win given the circumstances ... because lets face it ... there isn't a billionaire(or even multi-millionaire) Russ Feingold/Bernie Sanders type in PA willing to spend his own scratch for this kind of race
[ Parent ]
One small point of disagreement (4.00 / 1)
Is the GOP really toast?

Not necessarily.

I hate to bring this up, but Specter's behavior in the past week suggests that he may have lost a few marbles to his advancing age.

Evidence:
1) His very honest initial explanation for why he made the switch.  Politicians just don't talk like that.

2) His saying that he viewed his seniority as an "entitlement" for his years of service.  It may be what he truly thinks, but again, no politician talks like that in public.

3) His totally bizarre behavior in the Coleman incident.

4) More generally, did he really think he could vote like a down the line Republican but call himself a Democrat and not have anyone notice?  What's going on in that head of his?

It wouldn't take much for the GOP spin machine to basically campaign on Specter's senility issue (real or not).  So I don't think Specter running as a Dem is a lock.  

I don't think Sestak can campaign on this issue (unless it gets much worse) but it is another reason to prefer Sestak over Specter.  Do we want to have to defend Specter in a campaign?  I don't.

sTiVo's rule: Just because YOU "wouldn't put it past 'em" doesn't prove that THEY did it.

I meant to say (0.00 / 0)
"I don't think Specter WINNING as a Dem is a lock".

sTiVo's rule: Just because YOU "wouldn't put it past 'em" doesn't prove that THEY did it.
[ Parent ]
Rendell/PA Dems & DC Dems think it is a lock -- (4.00 / 1)
and many PA Democrats have voted for him over and over and over since 80.

Rendell can make it happen, even if Specter drooled on the campaign trail and foamed at the mouth -- no?

[ Parent ]
would people be so pro-Sestak if it was Casey? (0.00 / 0)
if there's a Draft Someone movement, shouldn't it be issue-based instead of "well, he wants it and has money" ???
i wouldn't be at all surprised if they allow Sestak to run on purpose -- (0.00 / 0)
they obviously are still unsure if PA Dems will allow a coronation and unopposed installation of Specter -- having the only choice -- a conserva-Dem alternative to Specter -- makes it all appear democratic and either way they win, no?
PA-Sen: Ridge Out, Will The Democratic Grassroots Force a Primary? | 16 comments
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