Sestak Defeats Specter in Pennsylvania Primary

Representative Joe Sestak defeated Senator Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary this evening. Specter is outsted after five terms and after he switched parties last year to avoid a likely Republican primary defeat. As it turns out, most of us in PA, Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike, are tired of Specter.

Last year, Specter was one of the few Republican votes cast for the economic stimulus package, which was widely viewed by conservatives as a pork laden package that would do little to stimulate the economy. His vote enraged conservatives to the point where he realized he had no chance at defeating a more conservative opponent, Pat Toomey, in a Republican primary.

Since then, President Obama and the Pennsylvania Democratic establishment lead by Governor Ed Rendell welcomed Specter and backed him in his bid for the Democratic nomination. Rendell has also become increasingly unpopular across the state, although he remains popular in Philadelphia.

I don't know much about Pat Toomey, but Specter was clearly a guy who overstayed his welcome. It is nice to see that voters do actually have a say in American politics, no matter who backs what candidate. Sestak ran a smart campaign, and now in November, Pennsylvanians will be given a clear choice between a left leaning Sestak and a conservative Pat Toomey. My guess is that if the economy has not shown dramatic improvement, unemployment is still near 10%, and Europe is still in economic chaos, then Toomey has a solid chance. Otherwise, Pennsylvania seems to lean more Democrat based upon recent election cycles and Sestak should be a slight favorite as of now.

In PA-12, the Democrat Critz defeated the Republican Burns in a special election to hold the seat left open by the death of long term Democrat Jack Murtha. Republicans hoped for an upset, but Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-1 margin in this district in the Johnstown area. Interestingly, both candidates rejected Obama administration policies as the winner, Critz said he would have voted against the healthcare bill and the stimulus. These two will have a rematch in November, as both also won their party primaries this evening.

What I hope is that tonite strikes fear in any of the long time incumbents. I personally believe we still need term limits. Politicians simply become too entrenched in the system and forget the people they represent. I think it would be healthy to get some bold and fresh new ideas every decade or so, rather than allow these politicians, who get such a built-in advantage through incumbency, to get stale and rotten and corrupt while staying in office for 20 or 30 years.

Just my two cents!