Specter on Santorum: 'This campaign is over'
(CNN) - While Rick Santorum insists he'll pull a victory in his home state of Pennsylvania later this month, another former high-profile senator from the Keystone State said that won't happen.
"This campaign is over for Rick Santorum," Arlen Specter said Thursday of his former supporter. "There's nothing left of his candidacy."
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In an interview set to air on CNN's "John King, USA," the former senator speculated Santorum was only staying in the race to gain book deals or fuel 2016 White House aspirations.
"I'm not going to tell him what to do, but he's beating a dead horse in my opinion," Specter told CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger.
Specter's comments came just days after Santorum faced three disappointing losses to Mitt Romney in contests in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
The former senator unexpectedly became a hot topic at a CNN debate in February when Romney criticized Santorum for supporting Specter in a 2004 re-election bid. Romney argued that Specter eventually went on to become a key vote in the passage of President Barack Obama's health care reform.
Specter served most of his life as a Republican but switched parties in 2009 to run as a Democrat after polls showed he would face a tough primary battle. The longtime senator lost in his new party's primary, however, while conservative Pat Toomey ultimately won the seat in the general election.
But the former senator also showed little enthusiasm for Romney, the Republican front-runner. Asked if the candidate could win Pennsylvania in the November general election, Specter argued the former Massachusetts governor had switched his positions too many times.
"It all depends on which Mitt Romney they're going to reset his campaign," he said.
A former chairman on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Specter also weighed in on Obama's controversial remarks about the Supreme Court this week, in which he challenged the high court to uphold the health care law.
While Republicans accused the president of overreaching in his comments, Specter said Obama acted in a "calculated way" and "appropriately laid down a marker."
"If the Supreme Court is going to be political about their decision, he's going to make it a campaign issue," Specter said, though adding the president "has to be careful."
Watch the full interview at 6 p.m. ET on CNN's "John King, USA."
Also see:
Romney makes general election pitch in Pennsylvania, but can't ignore Santorum
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Spoken as one who no longer has to be careful – thankfully. Specter is well acquainted with flipflops – having been the flip-flop king while in office. Santorum backed (at great political risk) Spector when he was headed for defeat in the Repub. primary against Toomey the 1st time. He truly is a man without a party.
PLEASE get this traitor that gave us Obamacare out of my sight. He is one of the worse snakes in the political arena. It was fitting Obama rewarded him by throwing him under the bus in his election. He deserved what he got but deserves far worse.
Well, he knows a thing or two about over.
Two words: Benedict Arnold.
If it talks like a loser, walks like a loser, then it must be a loser.
@Another Day – it is 100% us and them for you, eh?
Specter saying that Romney has switched positions too many times?
This coming from someone who switched from Republican to Democrat just to have an easier primary? Give me a break.
Out of respect for Good Friday and the Easter holiday – this is my last comment.
Santorum is enjoying the attention and knows full well he has no chance of winning. Having said that – he also knows Willard doesn't either.
Have a Happy Easter everyone (republicans included). I'll pick up our lively discussions on Monday.
Peace
When will Specter Finally Go Away..His ramblings make about as much sense as the single bullit theory he once proposed...
Specter is totally irrelevant.
You should know been there already haven't you.
this race is nowhere near over. Nobody knows what the true delegate count is.
God will tell Rick it's over this weekend .
It's sad , God has a busy weekend and more important happenings going on.
Maybe one of Ricks Kids could tell him it's time to pack it up and come home and be a Father .
This phony is the worst of the worst. Who wants to know what he thinks about anything? Just an old man with no core, a dumpster full of regrets, and a bad combover. old glazier
Oh Puleez! Traitor RINO condemns his enemy former Senator! The Spectre knows something about death
Romney, Specter, Santorum - they give me the creeps.
Who cares what this loser (in so many ways) thinks?
Why would Anyone Care what this disgraced Traiter to the repblican party who may or not be impared mentally Thinks about a republican issue??? Really !!
Why would you ask this former traiter to the Rebuplican party what he he thinks? No one Cares !!! You must be writing to impress Dems who think he has some influence there..Ha Ha !!
Who in the hell wants to hear the opinion of this elitist traitor. Specter is so full of himself; he's no doubt the biggest loser of a politician of the century. Specter has a total lack of ethics and even Barry wants nothing to do with him.
Ricky Boy, you need to get real.
Romney won Wisconsin by 7 points even though 12% of all voters were
Democratic trouble maker voters. 80% of these Democrats specifically voted for you.
When asked why, they said that you would be a weak opponent for Obama.
The problem is Israeli money in American politics....
Dear "Another day-" get you OWN handle. All politicians are snakes (as are uncreative trolls like you who steal) The Repuglicans threw Arlen under the bus first.
I figure he was doing exactly what all politicians do (and Repooplicans typically admire)- looking after his own self interest.
america is democraticall advance politic must play acordding to the rule
This might be the first time I have ever agreed with Specter. The guy was an embarrassment to the Republican party and did everyone a favor when he left the Republican party.