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We should try to encourage Santorum or another REAL Repub to strap on a pair and sink this hairplug-eating-into-brain [re: Biden] gypsy [Specter was born in Russell KS like Bob Dole] carpetbagger.

It’s not surprising to see the anti-Specter rhetoric in full-bloom….The reality is that Specter is the best chance that the GOP has to keep the seat…I know that the red-state,red-meat crowd would LOVE to see him gone but there’s NO WAY that a “Redstate” Conservative is going to carry PA in a general election…The poll originates from Western PA but the population growth is in the East…Specter’s been on the Conservative radar for DECADES but he always finds a way to keep that seat…That’s no accident…If you notice, Santorum is now the Senator of Fox News! This reflects the population patterns and demographic changes happening in the commonwealth…John McCain bet his PRESIDENTIAL campaign on winning PA. He sent Palin to campaign there, every WEEK. He lost—by eleven!…I know that the redstate crowd would love to see a Jim Demint win up here but that’s just not happening…PA likes Senators like Casey (Dem who’s pro-life) and Specter…The state’s pretty much down the middle. Think “Michael Smerconish”….Now I’m sure that everyone will get all worked up and the GOP will probably do something “brilliant”, like fund a primary candidate who’ll whip Specter. While the red-meat crowd’s crowing, the seat will turn BLUE in the General Election. There’s a LOT of Dems who’ve voted for Specter over the years…Don’t underestimate the state “gravitas’ that Specter’s vote brings to constituents. He’s a pure swingvoter. The guy swung $10 BILLION to the Nat’l Inst of Health in the stimulus. IF that money leads to a disease treatment breakthrough, they’ll build a monument in the guy’s name! ..That “swing vote” status is a nice benefit for a lot of moderates and luke-warm liberals…Arlen will vote “R” 70-80% of the time. Cornyn’s smart enough to know that this is a better result than losing that seat…The poll’s accurate. You can focus on beating Specter in the “battle” but you’re likely to lose the “war”.

Nobody said that Specter was a “Conservative”…My point was that a strict Conservative would have an uphill battle, winning PA….Specter ALWAYS drew Dem votes…That doesn’t make him their optimum candidate…Remember, Specter used the stimulus leverage to steer more $$$ to N.I.H…He did NOT steer more “aid” to his hometown (Philadelphia), which was threatening to lay off firefighters. (THAT would be a Dem move)…Thanks for attaching the ratings…Look, Arlen Specter is the Poster boy for Senate term limits. He’s a guy in a moderately blue state that’s going to dissappoint Conservatives…..If the GOP supports Arlen, the seat stay’s Red (OK, light pink)….That poll tells you what a lot of people in PA already know. Arlen can win a General Election…The knee jerk reaction is to bury Arlen in the primary. The poll’s telling you that this would be a bad plan. Arlen WILL win GOP support if he’s the party’s nominee…He’ll also split the Dem vote to carry the state —again. Specter get’s painted as a crazy RINO ..He IS a Rino but he’s crazy like a fox.