(CNN) - Rep. Joe Sestak gets the backing of a big name Monday morning as House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank endorses his fellow Democrat's bid for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter.
According to a press release from the Sestak campaign, Frank will endorse the representative from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district when the two men team up at a news conference in Philadelphia.
Specter, up for re-election next year, is fighting for a sixth term in the Senate. The longtime Republican switched his party identity from Republican to Democrat earlier this year. Even though Specter has the backing of the Democratic Party and the White House, he's facing a primary challenge from Sestak, a former Navy admiral who first won election to Congress in 2006.
In published interviews, Frank has been critical of Specter's party switch.
Polls in Pennsylvania indicate that Specter's large primary lead over Sestak has shrunk to the low double digits.
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
From CNN Politics
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Congressman Frank is a very influential democrat. Despite being the frequent brunt as well as distributor of comedy, he is an extremely intelligent legislator and may further dig Sen. Specter's hole in the Democratic base back in Pennsylvania.
what he deserves.......just like Richardson, turncoats go down.
Since Frank is one of the worst politicians ever elected I don't think this helps.
I'm with Mr. Franks on this.
Spector needs to be replaced. I don't know anything about Sestak, but I find it hard to believe he could be any worse. We need to get rid of Conservatism before it completely destroys the nation. Spector is not a moderate by anyone's definition.
Great endorsement for Joe Sestak...Barney Frank, a man who admittedly starting dating a man after paying him for sex. This same man then started running a prostitution ring out of Barney's home. Of course, Barney told police he knew nothing about the prostitution ring, even though is was being run out of his own home.
Barney Frank, a man who had another boyfriend arrested for growing and selling marijuana while they were dating. Of course, Barney told police he knew nothing about his boyfriend's marijuana farm.
Barney Frank, a man on tape who said we have nothing to worry about with Fannie and Freddie.
Nice job Rep Sestak. You better just hope your fellow Pennsylvania voters are as crazy as my fellow Massachusetts voters.
Perfect. I'm sure Frank's endorsement of Sestak is going to really matter in the PA Democratic Primary. Specter should see a nice uptick in his support any day now... Maybe Frank will head on down to PA to argue with some "dining room tables" down there as well.
It is a shame because I like Joe Sestak and creepo Frank doesn't help his credibility. Frank had a big hand in the housing market collapse and now is blaming Bush for that. He is an arrogant creep who sounds like his mouth is fuil of marbles–maybe due to a speech impediment or maybe due to talking out of both sides of his mouth so often.
About as surprising as a tie on Father's Day. No Democrat is going to support Specter. And an endorsement from Obama is a kiss of death. With the White House backing him he's sure to lose.
I love it when the dems eat their own.
Specter had to know this was coming. He was such a dope not to know the Dems have a habit of using people to suit their needs, Shehaan, et al.
You deserve this Arlen.
This comeuppance from Specter the Defector's own new home party is absolutely karmic and comic in all ways. It's good to see Benedict Arlen see how traitors are treated by both sides of the political spectrum.
The very thing Specter sought to avoid by becoming a turncoat is now coming to pass. And how sweet it is...
Shouldn't be too hard to oust that little weasel Specter. Anyone who would vote for him should have an IQ test.
I think Sestak has a good chance of winning. He is exposing him self more to the MSM and is expressing his views on the hot topics. Sen. Specter has been mum.
Good for Barney Frank, Joe Sestak is the superior canidate and brings a new face to the Senate. It's a win-win for the American people.
An endorsement by Barney Frank? What else could anyone want. I wonder if Sestak will pay Frank to support Spector.
An endorsement from Barney Frank of all people should help out Specter.
Specter is to "iffy". He does what he needs to do for himself, not the people of this country. Get rid of him.
Specter is an opportunist. His fortune as a Republican changes so he becomes a Democrat. He is a turncoat. He turns on his Republicans masters and he will turn on the Democrats. Sestak is smart and homefully a bit fresher.
My , my Arlen – how's that whole party switch thing working out for ya?
The Dems will eat their own...actually mosy politicians will throw the werker ones under the bus in hopes of keeping the seat out of the oppostion party's hands. By the way Barney frank is a dispicable person. What is wrong with the people of Massachusetts..
Does he really want Barney Frank's endorsement, if I were him I wold try to run from any association with Frank.