Intrigue continues in PA senate race

Senator Arlen Specter’s decision to switch parties has stirred up both the Republican and Democratic primary field in next year’s election.

Senator Arlen Specter’s decision to switch parties has stirred up both the Republican and Democratic primary field in next year’s election.

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[audio: 090507sdrace.mp3]

With former Governor Tom Ridge’s decision to sit out the 2010 Senate race, the Republican primary field has one less potential candidate. Meantime, a grassroots effort is underway to bring more challengers into the Democratic race. Adam Green is organizing a website aimed at testing support for a run by Congressman Joe Sestak. He says he’s hearing more and more Democrats voicing concern about the support Senator Specter has gotten from President Obama and other party leaders.

Green: We live in a Democracy, and Democratic voters deserve a voice in who their Democratic nominee will be, for a Senate spot that’s relevant for the next six years of policy making. And the idea that there will only be one candidate there, due to some edict from above, really hits people at a certain visceral level.

State Democratic Chair TJ Rooney says he understands and respects the calls for an even Democratic primary, but notes Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Governor Rendell and others have the right to back Specter, or any other candidate.