Rendell: Specter Wins Primary "By Double Digits"
Pennsylvania's top Democrat predicts that Sen. Arlen Specter will ultimately win the primary election in two weeks, having proven to be a reliable vote for the party in the year since switching from the Republican side.
In an interview with Real Clear Politics, Gov. Ed Rendell did hedge a bit by saying in what is likely to be a low-turnout affair that "anything can happen," but that Specter is "likely to win by double digits" in the race against Rep. Joe Sestak (D).
"He's done a good job politically, he's also done a good job on issues," Rendell said. "[For] a lot of us here in Pennsylvania, the stimulus is viewed -- certainly among Democrats -- very well. I think a lot of us here feel indebted to him for the stimulus, and supporting the president."
And Sestak, he says, "made a huge mistake" tactically by holding much of his warchest in reserve until the final weeks of the campaign, launching his first television advertising just last month.
"He's not going to lose by 20 points now. But I just think that it's tough to build enthusiasm in three and a half weeks," he said.
In another closely-watched contest, Rendell thinks Democrat Mark Critz can still win the special election for John Murtha's Congressional seat, even as national handicappers say the Republican now has an advantage.
"The most important thing is, I set the special election for primary day," Rendell said. "We do terribly in special elections, Democrats, because Republican voters are much more reliable and they'll come out in an election that's at an unusual time. But the fact that it's on primary day is important."
Republicans have no primary battles for either Senate or governor, while Democrats do in both races. But in an interview last month, Republican nominee Tim Burns disputed the idea that those other races will boost Democratic turnout.
"People in this district aren't as excited about the Democratic primary as much as people outside of the district think or thought," he said. "If you ask a person on the street who John Sestak [sic] is, they're not even sure. ... This race I really believe is the race that will drive turnout."
We'll have more from the Rendell interview at RCP tomorrow.