Can Sestak unify Democrats?

After winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, he faces a strong Republican in Pat Toomey

After defeating five-term Senator Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania’s Democratic nominee for Senate Joe Sestak now faces a tough battle in the fall. Specter and the state’s Democratic leaders are behind Sestak now, but they say Republican nominee Pat Toomey will give Sestak a real fight in November.

After supporting his friend Arlen Specter in the primary, Governor Ed Rendell says he’ll back Sestak. But he says the two-term Congressman will have to work hard to defeat Toomey.

“We’re gonna have to tell people that Toomey has been working with Wall Street, the same guys that brought this economy down. We’ve gotta deliver that message and deliver it forcefully and hope that the economy continues to get better.”

Specter also had the backing of the city’s African American community. Jerry Mondesire, who runs the Philadelphia N.A.A.C.P. worries about Sestak’s ability to beat Toomey.

“Toomey is a dangerous presence and will be a horrible Senator if he’s elected and I’m not sure Joe Sestak has the wit, and the tools and the gumption to win. Especially because he has almost no relationship with the African American community across the state.”

This month a poll by Franklin and Marshall College found Sestak and Toomey almost even, with about 40 percent of the electorate undecided.