BLUE BELL, Pa. (AP) — To understand Republicans’ nagging fear that the Nov. 2 elections might not be quite the massive triumph that many have predicted, check out Pennsylvania’s perplexing Senate race.
Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak has trailed Republican Pat Toomey for months, and a GOP victory always has seemed likely, given that it’s a Republican-trending year in this perpetually contested state. Yet recent polls suggest Sestak has closed the gap, and Republican leaders are imploring supporters not to panic even as they ask themselves: What’s going on?
The Sestak-Toomey race mirrors other Senate contests that are making this one of the most intriguing and unpredictable midterm elections in years.
Just as in Nevada, Colorado, Kentucky, and perhaps Alaska and Connecticut, each candidate is an accomplished but imperfect politician, and the tea party movement is playing a big but uncertain role.
In most of those states, plus Washington and California, Senate races are tightening to nail-biting margins. That means Republicans might pick up a few seats or as many as 10, which would give them the majority. Democrats privately concede they may be unable to keep their House majority, but losing the Senate would be devastating.
President Barack Obama’s travels now focus largely on trying to save Democratic senators in Washington, California, Nevada and Wisconsin, a clear sign that his party is still playing defense.
While California and Washington see Senate GOP challengers creeping up on Democratic incumbents, it’s embattled Democrats who seem to be rising elsewhere. They have seized on a common claim: A dangerous fringe movement, the tea party, has taken over the Republican Party.
Unlike the Republican nominees in Colorado and Nevada, Pennsylvania‘s Toomey fits more comfortably in the GOP’s business-friendly, low-tax tradition than in the hot-blooded, anti-establishment tea party model. Still, he has accepted tea party champion Sarah Palin’s endorsement.
Sestak is using that fact — plus, curiously, the notoriety of tea partier Christine O’Donnell, the GOP Senate nominee in neighboring Delaware — to paint Toomey as a pilot of a new and scary Republican Party veering dangerously to the fringe.
In speeches and ads, Sestak ties Toomey to O’Donnell, the headline-grabbing upstart who trails by double digits in Delaware polls. In a debate Wednesday, Sestak said he worries about “those extreme candidates” who take advantage of “the extreme fringe of the tea party. There are those that are running with Congressman Toomey. Miss O’Donnell next door, for example.”
While many analysts have predicted a tightening of Senate races, the strategy might be working. If that perception spreads, it will embolden Democrats making similar claims against tea party Republicans in Nevada, Colorado and elsewhere.
It might even give hope to Democratic Senate nominee Jack Conway in Kentucky, where Republican Rand Paul has not quite sealed a victory.
In Alaska’s complex race, Sen. Lisa Murkowski is slapping the too-extreme label on Joe Miller, the tea party favorite who denied her the Republican nomination. Murkowski is trying a write-in campaign, while the Democratic nominee, Scott McAdams, seems to be running third.
Some analysts see two other factors helping Sestak, and perhaps Democrats elsewhere:
—Democrats are thought to have a superior get-out-the-vote operation here and in other states, and the latest polls might be reflecting the heavy contact of voters by phone and door-knocking.
—Obama and others have said Democratic voters will “wake up” when they realize what’s at stake, and some analysts think that’s happening now.
Many Republicans scoff at these claims, saying a powerful tide of voter anger still runs heavily in their favor.
To be sure, Sestak has his own problems, just as Sen. Harry Reid has poor approval ratings in Nevada, and Sen. Michael Bennet struggles to defend his support of Obama in Colorado.
Pennsylvania Republicans say the intense former Navy admiral is too liberal for this centrist state. They note that Sestak, a two-term House member, wanted a public insurance option in the new health care law, a larger stimulus package than the $814 billion plan Congress approved, and a tougher cap-and-trade energy bill than the House passed.
A TV ad by the National Republican Senatorial Committee rattles off those points with machine-gun speed, part of a torrent of campaign attacks by both parties that assault Pennsylvania viewers daily. Plenty of anti-Toomey ads air, too. Some voters say they now tune out the entire avalanche of commercials for and against House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates.
In a televised debate in Pittsburgh on Friday, Sestak defended Obama’s stimulus spending. He said mainstream economists believe 8 million more jobs would have disappeared without the blend of middle-class tax cuts and help for cash-strapped state governments and the unemployed.
Toomey said three years of halving payroll taxes would have been more effective, by making it less costly for businesses to hire new workers.
As elsewhere, the Pennsylvania political debates and TV ads specialize in guilt-by-association.
One 30-second anti-Sestak ad ties him to Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Reid on the issues of stimulus spending, bank bailouts and energy.
Sestak sandwiched his opponent between the most famous tea party figures, alluding to “Palin, Toomey, O’Donnell” as if they were a law firm.
Toomey was in the House from 1999 to 2005, but Sestak invariably calls him “congressman” in this anti-insider year.
Toomey is trying to blunt the attacks by saying Sestak is the extremist in the race. His allies run TV ads attacking Sestak for saying suspected terrorists should be tried in federal courts, not military tribunals.
The GOP nominee is trying to keep some distance from tea party activists while embracing more traditional Republicans. He welcomed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at a small rally Friday in a fire station in Blue Bell, northwest of Philadelphia. But speaking later with reporters, Toomey was expressionless when asked if Palin is qualified to be president, a question he sidestepped in Wednesday’s debate.
“Politicians don‘t decide who’s qualified for office,” he said. “Voters decide.”
Ed Rendell, a former Democratic Party national chairman who is retiring after two terms as Pennsylvania governor, said in an interview that he thinks the specter of an ascendant tea party is lighting a fire under Democratic voters.
“Democrats are getting scared by all the craziness out there,” he said moments after campaigning for Sestak at Temple University. He cited Republicans who want to subpoena scores of Obama administration officials and who would outlaw abortion for rape victims. That message, plus the party’s get-out-the-vote push, might help candidates such as Sestak pull off upsets on Nov. 2, Rendell said. Or maybe not.
“It’s all coming together,” Rendell said. “Now will it come together fast enough to make a difference? I can’t predict that.”
___
Associated Press writers David Espo, Jim Kuhnhenn and Liz Sidoti in Washington and Marc Levy in Pennsylvania contributed to this report.
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (62)
DMD
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 10:47amThis just means ALL republicans need to get off the couch and VOTE NOV 2nd. Its time to stand up against the church buses, school buses, union buses and dead people that the Democrates will be bringing. At the end of the day there are more AmeriCAN’s than socialist marxists.
Report Post »Flagwaver
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:44amI’d be looking at the mail-in ballots. Not to mention how many of those states have had recent ACORN-related voter registrations.
Report Post »HillCountryPatriot
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:36amYou think this election craziness is bad, just wait until 2012. Can you just imagine the evil forces that will be at work to ensure Obama gets his second term?
We haven’t seen anything yet.
Be prepared.
Report Post »TrueBlue
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:23amEasy. I know what’s happening. The polls are pretty much fabricated–or so biased they may as well be–and Democrats are going to illegally steal as many elections as they can get away with anyway. I guess they figure Bush got away with it in 2000, so no holds barred on what they can and should do to get what they want in their twisted, puerile minds.
Report Post »mzmaj7
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:22amYet another get out the vote effort from the AP.
Btw, what’s the difference between the “business-friendly, low-tax tradition“ and the ”hot-blooded, anti-establishment tea party model”?
Report Post »LSX
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:35amSimple equation:
Vote “R” for the Recovery of our country.
Vote “D” for the Destruction of the American way.
.
Report Post »Conservative Grinch
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:30amThat is because Conservatives are too reluctant to run ads that might be perceived as negative or vicious. But, that is an unrealistic approach. The Progressives will cry foul and accuse you of running attack ads for merely exposing the truth about their voting record. While at the same time the Progressives will slander there opponents.
I don’t suggest that Conservatives should run attack ads based upon lies. However, we should not be afraid to shout the truth. That is all that is needed to take a Progressive down.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:20amConsider something. Which races/candidates have been getting all the national press in the past month? I know those on the coasts tend to forget we’re out here in the middle of the country, but doesn‘t it make sense that many Republican candidates could sustain some collateral damage from constant stories about O’Donnell and Paladino? I swear we get more coverage of those two than of our own horrific choice between Blunt and Carnahan, or Illinois’ pathetic choice between Kirk and Giannoulous.
I fully appreciate the movement and sentiment that gave us nominees like O’Donnell and Paladino but we need to at least acknowledge that people like Rove and Krauthammer had a point when they warned us ahead of time that there are consequences to our selections.
Report Post »Conservative Grinch
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:36amIt is better to vote for a RINO that well later sell us out than a true Conservative that will stand behind their convictions. The unfair attacks by the press are why we should have doubled our support for O’Donnell and Paladino; not abandoned them to the Democrats’ shameless media allies.
Report Post »Bob1943
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:12amI don’t know it the Senate races, or House races for that matter, are really “tightening”, but I am sure we are going to be told they are. In an effort to increase liberal turnout the state run media is going to say, “it’s getting close”, whether it is…or not. Conservatives need no more motivation to go to the polls, they are as motivated as a person can get. Liberals however, need to believe that their vote will be important because the races are all “close”. If liberals think they are going to get really clobbered they are less likely to vote, thinking it won’t matter.
Tightening races are just another progressive tactic to try to increase their voter turnout, and should be recognized for what it is. This is as predictible as the NAACP crying “RACISM”!
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 7:53amI agree that the most important thing is to get out and vote.If Americans have been doing their homework and paying attention to what is going on with this government, there will be no problem with the GOP turning the tide on the Dems in this election and the 2012 election. Make sure you keep telling everybody you know(and some that you don’t), GET OUT AND VOTE!
Report Post »takingonissues.com
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 7:00amJust never mind what the polls and the media say…get out and vote. The Democrats are scared and they are using every trick in the book to discourage voters from going to the polls…don’t fall for it…get out and vote.
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 6:00amAmericans simply have two choices 2 November. They can vote for the LIberal Progressives (formerly the Democratic Party) this of course would be the complete unraveling of America and the slow death of freedom and the rights Americans have fought and died for for so many years. OR they can vote for a Conservative and see the Constitution brought back to our nation and that our freedoms and rights will be preserved per that Constitution. Its really as simple as that. If Obama is allowed to go unchecked and continue to pursue his socialist agenda he will indeed transfrom this great nation into an evil socialist country. We will go bankrupt, we lose lose our freedoms, we will lose our guns, the Christian religion will be attacked by moslems and sharia law, and we will most likely become a 3rd world country. Ultimately there will be a revolution. A revolution between the races and cultures thanks to this cockroach President that will have been the cause of it all. A pity… So, we as Americans can either vote this devil and his long list of circus freaks out of office, or we can just roll over and lose everything. America will start deciding that on 2 November. We better not screw up.
Report Post »justice
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 5:11ampeople of penn state, you need to get out and vote. since when is running against ,big gov’t against healthcare, cap and trade and of course Jobs. why are toomey and other conservatives being called extremist. when dems use this word it should be a warning sign to all. please take time to hear their words. the dems are leaning towards the center now, til they get your vote, then the bomb drops and they go back to the left. if they get back majority america will never look the same.
Report Post »leftwingpinko
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:27amhey democrats are just using the word extremist like republicans use the word liberal, Marxist, socialist, communist, and Kenya. dont get your panties in a bunch
Report Post »MOLLYPITCHER
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 10:19amHey Daftwing – in the case of lefties like you, the labels are simply the truth.
Report Post »politicaljules
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 5:06amDont get too cocky, Republicans because we ARE watching you. You are not being voted in because you are superior. You are being voted in to come and start sweeping floors. You are being promoted to janitor, and if you do not perform, then you will be removed coming next time.
I will go full blown libertarian on your rear ends. Dont MAKE me turn my vote around because I can EASILY SUPPORT A RON PAULER IF THE GOP F’s THIS UP.
America is watching you and your rabid repeal of all obama laws is what we want to see. NO EXCUSES.
If you at least show us this effort, you will be asked to stay on with this company. If not, Libertarians you are up next.
Report Post »Vunks
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 4:15amRand Paul has got this won, with Jacks last add he hung himself.
Sharon will beat Reid. I see at the end of this election the democrats holding 52 seats in the senate. A massive loss for them, and the republicans will have enough to block anything. We will get gridlock.
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 2:42amI talked to some people who aren’t voting to try and get them to vote. They had supported Obama last election, and now they are not going to vote, specially not for Democrats. I was surprised, and even shocked that they mention that they would vote fore Mike Labno if they did vote. He is running for Senate in Illinois.
In Illinois, the Dem & Rep candidates have the same stance on almost every issue, you are just voting for a “D” or “R” and the continued norm in D.C., where as voting for Mike Labno is actually what this county needs…a change in the direction and return to the Constitutional guidence.
Mike Labno for Senate!!!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 3:27amIVE OUTDONE MYSELF BY ACTUALLY TALKING TO PEOPLE LOL but every one i talked to was democrat…..i live near trenton nj philly border ( theyre is an overwhelming democratic majority) but to my happy surprise 9 out of 10 either werent aware of a november vote, or completely dont care and arent voting. the republicans and independants are coming out in droves and arent voting democratic i can assure you ……..Pennsylvania will not be a blue state after election day save for fraud in the election
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 2:29amIt is sure going to be an interesting night!! http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »staythecourse
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:56amSeems like something strange is going on… here in PA and elsewhere… suddenly Republicans are not the sue winners they were and Dems are making strong headway. Mighty strange….maybe there are more “possessed” voting machines than in Texas, and the Dems know it….just saying…maybe. Pelosi is a little too sure of herself. Sort of reminds me of her threat to “polevault” in with the health care bill. Do you think there is any “poll” vaulting going on “out there”?
Report Post »M-O-O-N Spells Moon
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 2:13amThey control almost all of the media, perhaps they have enough control of the polls as well? Prayer is necessary, and hope, and certainly voting. But I see a clear need to educate voters in plain and simple American English about the choice we face. Political ads won’t do that, as almost no one believes them at a rational level. Talk to your friends and neighbors and express the facts as clearly and calmly as possible, suggest that they look it up for themselves. If we learn from history, the choice becomes much clearer. If not, then I‘ll be looking for Gault’s Gulch.
Report Post »leftwingpinko
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:24amwhy no suspicion of the “liberal media” why the polls say what you want them to? only doubt the MSM when it reports a story you dont like?
Report Post »computerdweller
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 10:03amOur Founders believed in miracles. That’s why the signed their name under the last sentence of the declaration that said. “With a firm reliance on Divine Providence…”. When you testify in court or become President or a government legislator, you swear an oath on a Bible. If you want a miracle this election then repeat the pledge you probably said as a child, with God in it. Say it as a prayer Put your heart into it and God will hear and miracles will happen.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The full last line of the declaration
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
And then they fought a war and in 1787 created a constitution which was then ratified and started operation as a government in 1789 while we were still at war with England. The United States Bill of Rights consists of the ten amendments added to the Constitution in 1791, as supporters of the Constitution had promised critics during the debates of 1788. Our Constitution is the oldest written constitution still in use by any nation in the world.
Report Post »jjbbaj14
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:55amFor the last 10-15 years, everyone has been saying the media is biased. Now all of a sudden we are to believe polls are tightening.
I believe in miracles. Nov 2nd will be a miracle, wait and see.
God Bless the USA!
Report Post »HKS
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:02amI agree, media polls are a crap shoot depending on what they want you to think. Like the radio announcer in major league, “Just a wee bit outside” and the pitch went into the stands. Maybe their pitch is just a wee bit outside?
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:05amIf we all vote I would not be surprised if we take the Senate!
Report Post »MidAmerican
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:24amPeople being afraid of the Tea Party? hmmmm Yikes, the dependency on taxpayer handouts and the lack of feeling personally responsible for yourself and your offspring runs far deeper than I thought.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 3:22amtheir afraid we will stop sending our tax money to the collective piggy bank………HEY WHAT A MARVELOUS IDEA LOL
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:23amNov. 2 will not make anything better
there is still a long way to go.
vote for reason and truth
(however you define it)
and keep doing so,
we are winning.
cheers
Report Post »adifftake
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:21amDems are gonna steal it. Been saying that all along.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:27pmMe too – and republicans and tea partiers can’t stop fighting with each other all the while I fear we see much the same after the election.
Report Post »Masamune
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:18amTheir scare tactics will only work for so long. Even if the Democrats don’t get completely massacred in November, they won‘t be able to stop what’s happening in America now. It’s only a matter of time before they lose all support whatsoever.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 9:49amI agree. They aren’t going to be able to stop this train. They may slow it down, that’s all.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 11:15amIf they don’t get massacred in November then we can all hang it up – that just speeds up their train for taking the country right on over the cliff.
Report Post »Mary M. Tebbe
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 7:25pmmasamune: The Tea Party is not a dangerous fringe movement as some would have us believe. They are patriotic Americans who love the Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, God and Country. They are making their voices heard as “WE THE PEOPLE”, calling for smaller government and putting power back in the hands of the people as our founders intended when they gave us a REPUBLIC.
Report Post »The democrats do not define the Republican party for us. We do! After Obama was elected the democrats told us that the Republican party was dead and doubted it would revive again. They always say that to demean the Republicans and to try to make us believe their lies, but don’t fall for that from the progressive/communist/socialist/marxist leftists. The Republican party knows who they are. The TEA PARTY has been a plus for the Republican party and don’t let anyone tell you any differently. We are not bigots, racists, angry, and hateful as the democrats want to portray us.
Be informed. Before you go to the polls research the candidates you’ll be voting for and jot their names down on a piece of paper and take it with you to the polls. In the excitement of the moment you may forget a name or two so it’s always good to have your list of favorite candidates as a reminder. Hopefully they are all REPUBLICANS!!!!!
Let’s defeat the democrats at the polls on November 2, 2010.
TruthLover
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:12amIf the Tea Party is a “dangerous fringe movement,” then progressives are death on a stick.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:29amYes and the Progressives are almost stranded on Fatal Terrain as explained in Sun Tzu “Art of War” in which at that point, they will be so desperate that anything will not be past them to try and take the elections – lies, deceit, bribery, coersion, theft, forgery, etc. or if they lose all, to proceed with the suicide plan of taking this country down with them in flames.
Consider this senario – massive vote fraud causes a Fed judge to declare all mail-in ballots null and void, many senate and house seats remain unfilled due to “technicalities” with voting machines and missing ballots and the like, or even the senate and house not permitting the newly elected people be seated – by force if necessary.
It could happen.
Http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)
Report Post »Steve Smith
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:42amAnd that’s why Broden warned a violent take over is on the table… One of the main reasons why we have a Second Amendment to our Constitution.
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:37am@Steve Smith
Understand I am not an advocate for violence – use the established means already set in the great Constitution of ours first, and work for peaceful change. Also, you are right on this part of the second amendment, let any would be tyrant from within or without understand that it is the people of the United States of America who have the absolute final means of defending our great land.
Report Post »http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)
patriot4evah
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:12amThey voted for Murtha after he said they were racist. Any questions?
Report Post »RAISINGCONSERVATIVES
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:17amThe most important thing is to vote! Get out there and vote! Use the voice you have and be responsible for the direction that country takes! It is up to us in the end. Take back the control and send a very clear message!
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 1:24amThe reliance just on voter anger may not be enough honestly for the conservatives, in addition to this is needed keeping the voters motivated…keep them going and spreading the word for everyone to get out and vote…and motivated to vote their ideals.
Have them vote for who they believe and for what they believe, in addition to getting them and all of America to vote.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 3:20ami live in pennsylvania…dont worry guys i got this ……………..lol………….toomey will win by 10 points
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:15amTurnout, turnout, turnout! I watched the Colorado Senate debate last night. Buck did not help himself. Words don’t seem to come easily for him. Many chances to score points were squandered. PLEASE CO, vote Buck & Tancredo.
Report Post »2
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 8:43amThey,
Report Post »ALWAYS SAY IT’S GETTING CLOSER SO YOU WATCH THE NEWS.
THAT’S THEIR LIFE. THIS IS LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.
YOU BETTER GET ON THE COUCH AND FIND 5 PEOPLE TO VOTE TOO,
EVEN IF IT’S NOT FRIENDS OR FAMILY.