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Toomey Says A Run For Senate Is Possible
By Bradley Vasoli, The Bulletin
Former Lehigh Valley GOP congressman Pat Toomey said yesterday on Bobby Gunther Walsh’s Allentown-based radio program he might run for the Senate against incumbent Arlen Specter, R, next year.
An e-mail some Pennsylvania conservative activists have received from Ron Shegda, a Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives in the 136th District in Northampton County, reported on Mr. Toomey’s announcement.
“Pat Toomey would not be the 100th Person in the Senate,” Mr. Shegda wrote. “He would serve Pennsylvania through principled leadership and with acute thinking. As an entrepreneur, former investment banker, business owner, congressman, cofounder of a local Lehigh Valley bank and national policy leader, Mr. Toomey will give instant credibility and acumen to banking and finance issues on Capitol Hill.”
Up to now, Mr. Toomey has publicly considered a 2010 run for governor. He would thereby enter a potentially crowded field, with state Attorney General Tom Corbett, former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan and U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, 6th, of Berks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, all considering running.
But many free-marketers and social traditionalists in Pennsylvania consider Mr. Specter, who narrowly weathered a primary challenge from Mr. Toomey in 2004, an important target for defeat. The senator was one of only three Republican federal legislators to vote for Mr. Obama’s $787 billion spending package, which he may have succeeded filibustering had he supported doing so.
“Sen. Specter cast the deciding vote on the very worrisome stimulus bill, when he could have negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama for more productive tax cuts and less wasteful spending,” Mr. Toomey said.
Right-to-work supporters are also closely watching to see which way Mr. Specter will go on “card check,” a measure Mr. Obama favors which would eliminate elections for workplaces deciding whether to unionize. The senator has indicated support of the legislation in the past but has lately been noncommittal.
Democrats often acknowledge Mr. Specter as one of their most frequent allies from the other side of the aisle.
“He knows what’s worth losing over and he’s willing to act on it,” Vice President Joe Biden said at a function last Friday with Pennsylvania’s federal legislators. “In his heart, I know he’s a Democrat.”
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
An e-mail some Pennsylvania conservative activists have received from Ron Shegda, a Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives in the 136th District in Northampton County, reported on Mr. Toomey’s announcement.
“Pat Toomey would not be the 100th Person in the Senate,” Mr. Shegda wrote. “He would serve Pennsylvania through principled leadership and with acute thinking. As an entrepreneur, former investment banker, business owner, congressman, cofounder of a local Lehigh Valley bank and national policy leader, Mr. Toomey will give instant credibility and acumen to banking and finance issues on Capitol Hill.”
Up to now, Mr. Toomey has publicly considered a 2010 run for governor. He would thereby enter a potentially crowded field, with state Attorney General Tom Corbett, former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan and U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, 6th, of Berks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, all considering running.
But many free-marketers and social traditionalists in Pennsylvania consider Mr. Specter, who narrowly weathered a primary challenge from Mr. Toomey in 2004, an important target for defeat. The senator was one of only three Republican federal legislators to vote for Mr. Obama’s $787 billion spending package, which he may have succeeded filibustering had he supported doing so.
“Sen. Specter cast the deciding vote on the very worrisome stimulus bill, when he could have negotiated with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama for more productive tax cuts and less wasteful spending,” Mr. Toomey said.
Right-to-work supporters are also closely watching to see which way Mr. Specter will go on “card check,” a measure Mr. Obama favors which would eliminate elections for workplaces deciding whether to unionize. The senator has indicated support of the legislation in the past but has lately been noncommittal.
Democrats often acknowledge Mr. Specter as one of their most frequent allies from the other side of the aisle.
“He knows what’s worth losing over and he’s willing to act on it,” Vice President Joe Biden said at a function last Friday with Pennsylvania’s federal legislators. “In his heart, I know he’s a Democrat.”
Bradley Vasoli can be reached at bvasoli@thebulletin.us
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