State lawmaker endorses Sestak, then has second thoughts

    Congressman Joe Sestak’s surging Senate campaign gained – and then lost – the endorsement of a state House Democrat yesterday afternoon.

    Congressman Joe Sestak’s surging Senate campaign gained – and then lost – the endorsement of a state House Democrat yesterday afternoon.

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    Tuesday morning, the Sestak campaign sent out a press release touting the endorsement of Delaware County Democrat Thaddeus Kirkland.

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    Around 1:45 p.m., Kirkland and Sestak took part in a joint interview, where Kirkland said Sestak is his candidate.

    ”He has run an honest and upbeat campaign, and not a negative one,” said Kirkland, “which I see being run by Senator Specter.”

    But less than twenty minutes later, Kirkland called back.

    He said he “needs to remain neutral” in the tightening Specter-Sestak primary, and rescinded the endorsement.

    At a campaign event in Harrisburg, Sestak said he was surprised by the news, but doesn’t take it personally.

    He noted he’s running against the Democratic establishment – a point illustrated by the fact that Specter has begun airing a new commercial starring President Barack Obama, who endorsed the onetime Republican the day after Specter switched parties.

    The Specter campaign declined to comment on Kirkland’s non-endorsement.

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