(CNN) - It's official. Former Rep. Pat Toomey is challenging Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter for his Senate seat, again.
Toomey formally announced his 2010 Senate bid Wednesday, the second time he will challenge the incumbent Pennsylvania senator after running an unsuccessful primary campaign against him in 2004.
"I'm running against Arlen Specter in the Republican primary because we need a new direction and positive solutions," Toomey says on his campaign website, ToomeyForSenate.com.
Toomey announced Monday he would begin taking steps to challenge Specter, but formally announced his candidacy Wednesday. Specter had already begun releasing campaign ads targeting his opponent before the former congressman made his announcement official.
Toomey's replacement at the head of the limited-government, anti-tax Club for Growth is former Rep. Chris Chocola. The new president announced Wednesday the group was making its first two Senate endorsements of the 2010 cycle, backing incumbent Republicans Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn.
From CNN Politics
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Can't you leave the repitition of this "lenin" guy off the air for awhile?
The lesser of the two evils is be Sen. Specter. I'm sure he was politically posturing by voting for the stimulus package. Smart move senator.
I am voting for anyone running against Specter. SPECTER HAS GO TO GO.
I voted for Specter before but ABSOLUTELY NEVER AGAIN.
1. SPECTER DOES NOT LISTEN TO HIS CONSTITUENCIES.
2. NEVER READ ANY OF THE LEGISTATURE BEFORE VOTING ON IT.
3. TOO OLD AND OUT OF TOUCH WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Spector is OLD now and he should retire....Spector is so addicted to power that he is forgetting his age...Mr. Spector you are not servicing tiur people...you are just there to sevre your own need of get in line with politicians who CYA....
I am not sure about Pat Toomey either because he would be worst than Mr. Spector....If I have to choose between Spector and Pat Toomey...I will go for Mr. Spector.....
Come on Pennsylvania...can't you find any better than Pat Toomey???????
Shame of moderate republicans....
Toomey is more of the same, party of NO, party of no alternatives or compromise. Specter is a rare bird: a Republican who is moderate in his views, willing to work with his fellow legislators, and works to actually represent his constituents. No brainer if I lived in Pennsylvannia!
"Right-wing extremism may be on rise, report says."
E.g., Toomey challenging Specter.
Toomey will loose against a moderate republican like Arlen Specter. Independents will favor Specter, hence he stands a better chance against a democratic opponent than Tooney!
If Toomey wins the primary the GOP can welcome an additional Democrat in the senate. Add Franken to the mix and they'll have the magic number – 60. Toomey has about as big of a chance as winning PA as McCain did. Nice to see that the GOP is still chasing pipe dreams, rather than doing their jobs.
Let Republicans fight among themselves in the doomsday election 2010 for them!
toomey: typical rep.–health care-do nothing; recession/depression-give tax break to wealth and corps; environment-do nothings; 50 m have no health insur – do nothing; infrastructure-do nothing; give tax break to wealthy and corp; national policy: lose job, lose health insurance – do nothing; yeah-vote for him
In a general election, Toomey is not going to win the seat. Specter will draw votes from both sides of the isle.
If the GOP really wants to shoot itself in the foot and guarantee a democratic takeover of the seat, they should vote for Specter's opponent.
Maybe the republicans do need new direction after it has become transparently obvious that their patriotism is a false front.
Spector is an extremely smart and experienced man who makes the best decision based on the facts, not party lines. He's an example of how a elected official should act.
Specter has been betrayed by his own party because he actually represents the moderate people of Pennsylvania, instead of the talking point of neo-con talking points from Rush Limbaugh. But then again the republicans never believed in representative democracy, they only believe in the olligarchy led by their corporate overlords.
Political competition is welcomed.
I hope it turns out like the Senator (retired) John Warner of VA episode. His party tried to oust him at one time by running a popular person against him but Virginians, who respected Senator Warner's ability to work with the other party, voted no and he remained a great national Senator.
Specter has been a great Senator for Pennsylvania. As a democrat, he will have my vote no matter who runs against him. He has proven himself time and time again that he is bipartisan and his own person. Those who would wish to change him are those who need to change themselves, or be voted out of office. They could all take a lesson from Senator Specter.
I think it is time for the Dems to repay the Repubs, let's all register as Repubs for the primary and vote for Spector.
Specter I am a democrate but feel you will be ok.
I just had a look at Senator Specter's voting record. Although he's generally considered a "Moderate Republican" in some circles, I disagree with his views for the most part. Replacing him with a Democrat would be a big improvement.
To Pennsylvania Republicans:
Please don't re-elect Specter. Put Toomey on the ballot and guarantee a Democrat will be elected. The people of Pennsylvania and the rest of the country will be much better off with fillibuster proof majority in the Senate. The Republicans will go from "The Party of No" to "No Party at All".
@Peter,
You should vote against all of your Congresspeople because apparently even those criticizing the stimulus bill did not know what was in the bill before they presented their arguments. One is no better than the other.
Arlen Specter is a true American Patriot. He works hard for the greater good, regardless of partisan bickering. In an interview last week, he said that the old days, where both parties truly worked together, is gone. It's a shame. He represents the way things should work.