If there is any truth to the old saying that there is nothing more exhilarating than being shot at and missed, then four-term GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania must feel particularly energized today.
With 99 percent of the vote tallied, Specter held off an aggressive primary challenge to his right from Rep. Pat Toomey, taking 51 percent to Toomey's 49 percent. Turnout was reported to be light throughout the state, meaning that Specter also defied the political axiom that moderates and/or incumbents don't win primaries when turnout is low because their voters are not as motivated.
While Democrats and some observers point to Specter's slim 16,641-vote margin of victory as a sign that he will be very vulnerable in the fall when he faces Democratic Rep. Joe Hoeffel, their enthusiasm may be a bit premature. First, the charge that hurt Specter in the primary--that he is a liberal--is not likely to hurt him in a general election. In fact, Specter's moderation is one of his strongest assets as it appeals not only to moderate Republicans, but also to independents
Subscribe Today
Our subscribers have first access to individual race pages for each House, Senate and Governors race, which will include race ratings (each race is rated on a seven-point scale) and a narrative analysis pertaining to that race.