PA Sen: Toomey In
Pat Toomey, former president of the conservative Club for Growth, will battle Sen. Arlen Specter (R) to be the GOP's nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania. Toomey said in a statement released this morning that "the economic stakes for our country have never been higher," and he suggested that state residents aren't getting the best representation from their leaders in Washington.
"America is at a crossroads," Toomey said. "We can continue down a path of massively expanding the federal government - which began under President Bush and is now growing at historic levels under President Obama - or we can change directions. We can stop the bailouts and the spending stampede; we can reduce the burdens on taxpayers; and we can unlock the ingenuity and job creation potential of our great nation once again."
Specter was one of three Senate Republicans to back Pres. Obama's economic stimulus package, and his poll numbers in the state show he's vulnerable to a primary challenge and in a general election fight against an unnamed Democratic challenger.
"For thirty years Senator Specter has consistently voted for increased government spending and a liberal agenda on social, labor, immigration and national security policies," Toomey said today. "In recent months, Senator Specter voted in favor of the unprecedented Wall Street and auto company bailouts and the massive "stimulus" spending bill. Senator Specter is on the wrong side of these critical issues and Pennsylvanians will pay the price."
Toomey suggested that "If Pennsylvania's senior senator stood up for taxpayers and job creation instead of routinely voting against taxpayer interests" he would feel less compelled to run. Toomey said he will stand for limited government, individual freedom and fiscal responsibility.
Pennsylvania backed Obama in the 2008 presidential election and has opted for the Democratic candidates in recent races for Senate and governor. So whoever wins the GOP nomination will have to consider the still split but increasingly left leaning nature of the state.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), said in an email yesterday that Specter is the best fit for Pennsylvania and that he would have the NRSC's full backing. Cornyn's statement had to provide some welcome relief to Specter, who faces an uphill climb.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
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