PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pat Toomey, the Republican conservative whose popularity scared Arlen Specter out of the GOP, was elected to Specter’s Senate seat Tuesday in one of the most hotly contested races in the nation.
Toomey, a 48-year-old former congressman, investment banker and restaurateur from the Allentown area, defeated Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak after hammering him on his liberal voting record and his ties to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Toomey had 51 percent to Sestak’s 49 percent.
Sestak, 58, now in his second term representing a suburban Philadelphia district, is a former Navy vice admiral who commanded an aircraft carrier group in war after the Sept. 11 attacks. It was Sestak who put an end to Specter’s 30-year Senate career by defeating the Republican-turned-Democrat in a shocking upset in the primary earlier this year.
Tuesday’s balloting capped a bare-knuckled campaign in which voters were inundated with tens of millions of dollars in TV and Internet attack ads and campaign fliers as they decided on a successor to Specter, whose voting record exemplified Pennsylvania’s middle-of-the-road politics and kept him in the Senate for five terms.
The two candidates are ideological opposites who portrayed each other as too extreme for Pennsylvania.
Toomey sought to tap into voter dissatisfaction over unemployment and the shaky economy to argue that Sestak, and his support for Obama’s policies, were to blame. The Republican contended that the Obama administration’s “extreme leftward lurch” required someone like him to help bring balance to Washington.
Sestak worked to convince voters that he was stuck cleaning up an economic mess made by Toomey and the Bush administration’s policies. He cast Toomey as an apologist for Wall Street whose zeal for tax-cutting and deregulation helped cause the recession and sent jobs overseas.
The race cost more than $50 million and included spending by the candidates, political parties, unions and national business advocates in the general election and the bruising Democratic primary.
Specter narrowly won his fifth term after overcoming a Toomey challenge in the GOP primary in 2004. The senator switched parties in 2009, shortly after Toomey declared he wanted a rematch this year; Specter acknowledged his chances of winning the nomination in the increasingly conservative GOP were slim.
Obama and other Democratic leaders shunned Sestak and endorsed Specter in the May primary. But Sestak billed himself as the true Democrat, and called Specter a Democrat out of convenience, not conviction. He won with 54 percent of the vote, after which the Democratic establishment enthusiastically embraced him.
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Comments (49)
mish63pa
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 8:29amPA is finally waking up, I couldn’t be happier this morning!!!
Report Post »Caremom
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 8:19amHeard SW PA Allegheny County roped it in for Patrick Toomey. Clearly Terrible Towels were painting the commonwealth red as Tom Corbett is now Governor. Huzzah!
Report Post »JesusFreak95
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 7:32amI’m so thrilled that Pat won here in PA. It has been absolutely depressing to have Casey and Specter as our representatives, and having lost Rick Santorum. We again have someone who represents THE PEOPLE in PA and the Senate.
I would like to ask the newly elected CONSERVATIVES to DEMONSTRATE their commitment to WE THE PEOPLE, and the folks here on the BLAZE and other conservative groups to support the same. NAMELY, I want to see these ladies and gentleman ROLLBACK their OWN Pay raises to 2008 levels. I want to see them CHANGE THEIR OWN PENSION Programs to defined CONTRIBUTION programs like most Americans, and I want to see their SPECIAL health care plans ELIMINATED. Think of the message this would send to ALL Americans who are hurting and struggling in this economy today! It won’t balance the budget, but it would be a great symbolic gesture that business WILL NOT be done as usual in Washington DC.
Congratulations Pat, it was a hard won victory here in PA. Now SHOW US that you mean it, and lead the more timid and self interested representatives back to sanity!
Next up, replace Robert the rubber stamper Casey!
God bless Pat Toomey, and God bless the United States of America.
Report Post »faires
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 7:32amYeah Baby, it’s a start_-But theres a lot to do yet!!!
Report Post »jerryod1627
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 7:20amIt’s a good start, but “we the people have a long way to go.” Let’s see how far we can trust these new elected officials. We pretty much know that we can not trust the ones already there. There is a lot more work to be done, and we need more Tea-Parties across the nation. Let them know that we are still here! Hold their feet to the fire!
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 7:10amI wonder who Arlen voted for? Probably the Communists. I have long witnessed the hammer and sickle on his flagship.
Report Post »ProudTeaPartyMember
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 7:04amI can just hear Specter mumbling through the day. Hey Arlen, how ’bout holding another Town Hall Meeting so we can watch more Americans attack you, you marble mouthed jerk.
Report Post »cammied76
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 3:17amAnd always remember to, “Act like a lady!” Quote from Specter to Michelle Bachman
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 3:10amNothing gives me more pleasure than seeing Toomey win Specter’s old seat.
Report Post »General K
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 2:57amBob the union lapper Casey has to go in the next cycle, another progressive creep has to bite the dust.
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 6:59amAbsolutely CORRECT! Casey must go. A new challenge has been issued today. In the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, We The People continue to rid ourselves of those who do not represent the Will of the People. Sestak lied about his job offer from the Obama Adminsitration. He is a liar. There is no honor in being dishonest.
Report Post »Kalidor835
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 2:26amAs a Pittsburgh native now living in West Virginia it is nice to see common sense returning to my home state. Keep it up PA!
Report Post »Kalidor835
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 2:37amI just wish people here (West Virginia) displayed the same common sense.
Report Post »General K
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 3:03amYes some sense but the union morons and the FDR commie dumbacrats and the welfare bums in Fayette and Greene counities re elected that Murtha clone Critz in our district. It is so frustrating being surrounded and out voted by them year after year. It is getting better but we are not there yet.
Report Post »MattPSU
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 2:07amWow this was a close finish. I’m really proud of the Commonwealth today.
*** Pennsylvanian clinging to my guns and religion***
Report Post »General K
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 3:06amDitto
Report Post »WaltzingMtilda
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:47amOh please, my nerves with this race! Toomey, I was counting on. I was worried about my PA House race (actually broke out in tears when Fitzpatrick pulled ahead) but to go down to the wire like that on the Senate. Well, I guess a few chewed fingernails are a small enough sacrifice to make.
Go Pennsy! Go Pennsy! (State Motto: The Best State).
Report Post »Kisha
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:38amHallelujah!!!
Report Post »gracie07
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:31amway to go PA!!! glad to see you took a stand and voted in a guy with character!
Report Post »OneRepublic4us
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:22amTo those people in California and Nevada
Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
This leads to the conclusion that insanity is spread across state borders by liberals fleeing high taxes only to drag their problems along with them.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:05amAnd I quote:
Buahahahahahahahahahha!
End quote.
Report Post »sportlock
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:14amyou didnt add the quotes lol
Report Post »Beckaj
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:56amThrilled about this, but I‘ll miss Pat’s impression of Arlen though.
Report Post »HeffolumpsnWoozles
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:33amAs a PA resident I have to say I would have wet the bed if we had Sestak and Casey as our senators. So long Arlen.
Report Post »Redline29
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:56amYou and me both…Glad to see we finally won one in PA. Sick of Erie, Pittsburgh and Philly deciding who wins, when the rest of the state votes the oother way.
Report Post »Vinegargirl
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 6:20amAmen!!!!
Report Post »txpiper
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:27amIf there is anyone I am happy to see vaporize into obscurity, it is single-bullet-theory Arlen stinkin Spector.
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 7:34amAMEN BROTHER!!!! All I can say is bring on the caffeine today, because there was no way I was going to sleep last night when this contest was still being counted. I am angry about Nevada . . . I wonder how many dead people voted and how many wanted to vote him out but the machines chose Reid for them?
Thank you Pennsylvania for restoring my faith in the people!!!
Report Post »SSBN_VET
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:19amWe just won little barry’s old Senate seat too !!!!!!!!!
Report Post »WaltzingMtilda
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:49amYay!!
Report Post »SSBN_VET
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:17amAnother One Bites The Dust.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:15amdo not abuse it,….or else
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:34amWhat ?
Report Post »You don‘t remember the 2 hagsO’Maine, McShameless and Ms Lindsey ?
With Reid winning, how do you think these shaky RINOs will lean ?
mikenleeds
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:12amThank God .. One more dum-o-rat gone
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:17amLoL
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:11amYea baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:18amAnd the good news keeps coming!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:27amAnyone here wants to apologize for the election results of CA,
Report Post »do so
NOW.
Lord I apologize for CA .
But I pray to the rest of the country to NOT take any leads from CA. Please y’all prosper and make sure your reps understand that your hard earned money does not end up bailing out this failed state.
Joe Ski Bum
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:27amThe people have regained the People’s seat!
Report Post »sportlock
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:35amPelosi at home screaming “I’M MELTING” and now this? I was happy just to hear the wicked witch is dead (politically) Time to retire grandma!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 12:54amNevada disappoints, but at least Nancy gives up her gavel!!
Report Post »Huckabee Gingrich 12
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 1:29am@WHIZ
Report Post »I’m wondering if it would be possible to FORCE Cali to secede.
cheezwhiz
Posted on November 3, 2010 at 2:30am@ Huckabee Gingrich 12
I’m wondering if it would be possible to FORCE Cali to secede.
—————
CA is already mexico for all practical purposes now.
Report Post »We have now a near seamless system of sanctuary for illegals and hostility for US citizens guaranteed , with Brown-Newsom-Harris trio in Sac and all the marxists already in place in DC.
The local LEA are forbidden from enforcing laws against illegals anyway, and they don’t seem to mind.
The only thing that will keep CA as a part of US will be the bailout money from the productive parts of the country.
CA needs US money to survive as mexico’s northern territory.
Its upto the rest of the country now. Plz don’t feed this parasitic beast anymore.