Arlen Specter has been defeated in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Specter changed parties last year, from Republican to Democratic, and was hoping to be re-elected this year.
Steve Komacki, a writer for Slate, appears to have been correct when he wrote a week ago that Specter should have run for re-election this year as an independent, not as a Democrat. The Pennsylvania Democratic primary is very close and Specter as an independent candidate would have had significant support from independent voters, from a substantial share of Democrats, and a substantial share of Republicans.
Winston Churchill switched from Conservative to Liberal and back to Conservative.
Benedict Arlen switched from Democrat to Republican and back to Democrat.
That’s about the only thing the two of them have in common.
Can he still run as a independent, Richard?
No.
“Specter should have run for re-election this year as an independent”
Hindsight is 20-20, and Arlen “Magic Bullet” Sp****ter, hasn’t seen things straight since at least before November, 1963.
Total kkkreep on abuse veterans issues!
One less EVIL party hack with ZERO principles.
The Senate is one of the most ANTI-Democracy legislative bodies in Western Civilization — due to the many small States — with their blowhard provincial party hacks — even worse than party hacks from the larger States like PA.
P.R. and App.V.
It was Arlen’s time to go. I can’t stand him politically but now we get a choice between Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey. A contemporary liberal (but NOT necessarily a progressive)versus a neo-conservative. A difficult choice for a constitutional libertarian voter. Let’s see if the LP and/or the CP can get on the ballot and put up a respectable nominee.
The CP is putting up John Krupa and the LP, I believe, are running Markay Rogers. Lets hope they can get on the ballot.
Joe @ #8 – actually Marakay Rogers is the Libertarian candidate for Governor, according to Poltics1.com
Politics1.com lists Doug Jamison as Libertarian candidate for Senate, and Donald John as a Constitution Party candidate for Senate.
Even if Arlen Specter had decided to run as an Independent, he is still 80 years old and he would be facing younger more vigorous opponents.
Now he can retire from politics and write an expose of the Warren Commission report.