Comments on: What to make of Specter’s decision? http://campaigndiaries.com/2009/04/28/what-to-make-of-specter/ Obsessive political analysis Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:18:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jaxx Raxor http://campaigndiaries.com/2009/04/28/what-to-make-of-specter/comment-page-1/#comment-17576 Jaxx Raxor Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:43:56 +0000 http://campaigndiaries.com/?p=7747#comment-17576 This is a rather major decision. In terms of Minnesota, Specter's party switch makes it even more important for Republicans to keep Franken out of the Senate as much as possible, although I would be very suprised if Franken isn't in by September at the absolute latest (I seriously doubt the federal courts will hear Coleman out, or even if they did I doubt they would issue a stay of a provisional seating for Franken). I agree that Democrats may be disappointed in having Specter as they could clearly get a more liberal Democrat. Of course, the junior senator from PA, Bob Casey, is no liberal, but at least on economic issues he is very party line. Also, the Democrats are favored to get a net gain of seats: getting the seat in Ohio in particular would be a great boom for EFCA considering the power unions have for Ohio Democrats, and either Lt. Gov Fischer or Brunner would be solid progressives. The same in New Hampshire, in which John Hodes, a solid progressive, is favored to win the seat. And perhaps some other races, such as if Jack Conway wins the primary over Mongradio in the Dem primary of Kentucky, could make Spectar not being as liberal as some owuld like less of a problem. This is a rather major decision. In terms of Minnesota, Specter’s party switch makes it even more important for Republicans to keep Franken out of the Senate as much as possible, although I would be very suprised if Franken isn’t in by September at the absolute latest (I seriously doubt the federal courts will hear Coleman out, or even if they did I doubt they would issue a stay of a provisional seating for Franken).

I agree that Democrats may be disappointed in having Specter as they could clearly get a more liberal Democrat. Of course, the junior senator from PA, Bob Casey, is no liberal, but at least on economic issues he is very party line. Also, the Democrats are favored to get a net gain of seats: getting the seat in Ohio in particular would be a great boom for EFCA considering the power unions have for Ohio Democrats, and either Lt. Gov Fischer or Brunner would be solid progressives. The same in New Hampshire, in which John Hodes, a solid progressive, is favored to win the seat. And perhaps some other races, such as if Jack Conway wins the primary over Mongradio in the Dem primary of Kentucky, could make Spectar not being as liberal as some owuld like less of a problem.

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