On eve of Pennsylvania primary, senate contest all tied up

The final Muhlenberg College tracking poll shows Specter and his rival, Congressman Joe Sestak, tied at 44 percent each.

With the Democratic Senate race all tied up on the eve of Pennsylvania’s primary, the national media is focusing on the race, and waiting to see whether Senator Arlen Specter’s party-switching gamble will pay off.

The final Muhlenberg College tracking poll shows Specter and his rival, Congressman Joe Sestak, tied at 44 percent each.

Specter has the backing of the Democratic establishment, and three decades worth of accomplishments to tout, but Sestak is doing all he can to out-hustle the incumbent.

“Am I working my toes off from now until then? Absolutely,” says Sestak, “because, until that ball is in the end zone, you just keep on working.”

Sestak made his remarks in Philadelphia’s LOVE Park, where he greeted voters on Friday afternoon.

A few blocks away, Specter held a press conference in a high-rise office tower with Governor Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter and members of the city’s black clergy.

He says he has seen his political obituary written before, and he’s confident going into Tuesday.

“I counted them up,” says Specter, “I’ve been in 14 contested elections. Six have been within three points. I’m still in the lead in key polls, but the poll that counts is next Tuesday.”

Specter says he may have switched from Republican to Democrat last year, but he’s always been consistent when it comes to bringing back federal dollars and resources for Pennsylvania.