I spent a few hours today making calls at the Bucks County GOP Victory Center, a very positive experience let me assure you. There was a good deal of enthusiasm and the phones were all in use making sure everyone who can vote casts a ballot today. One nice surprise, future Senator Pat Toomey stopped by about 2:00PM to thank volunteers. He was genuinely appreciative and posed for plenty of pictures with the young Republicans who wanted a facebook photo with their Senator. I took a few shots myself but didn't ask him for a picture for my facebook - oh well. I did get an autograph though. When I thanked him he was very warm and responded, "no, thank you for all your help." I really enjoyed meeting him.
Anectdotally, I have heard Republican turnout is very strong. There were reports of lower turnout in parts of PA's 8th Congressional District that tend to vote Democratic. We'll see if that holds out until the polls close. I am preaching to the choir but every vote is needed today so whatever reports we hear about enthusiasm will matter little in the end if people don't vote to close the deal.
Here are a few of the photos I took when Pat Toomey stopped by to say hello:
Hannity had Victoria Toensing and Jay Sekulow as guests to discuss the allegations Joe Sestak was offered a high level job if he would drop from the Pennsylvania Senate race. Sekulow sees the charges as explosive and they appear to be about to blow. Earlier today David Axelrod claimed there was no evidence such an offer was made despite the fact Sestak has said repeatedly such an offer was made. In essence, Axelrod is calling Sestak a liar though he candy coats it quite a bit:
“When the allegations were made, they were looked into. And there was no evidence of such a thing,” Axelrod said on CNN’s “John King USA.”
Axelrod acknowledged that if White House officials dangled a job in front of Rep. Joe Sestak’s face to keep him away from challenging incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, that would “constitute a serious breach of the law.”
Axelrod also acknowledged that there were “conversations” involving White House officials and Sestak, but said that those had been “looked at” by White House lawyers and “their conclusion was that it was perfect — the conversations were perfectly appropriate.”
So was Sestak tripping on some hallucinogenic mushrooms or has someone in the White House suddenly developed a convenient case of amnesia? The White House is in a classic double bind with Sestak. If Sestak is credible someone in the Obama administration is clearly facing serious legal charges. It is unlikely Sestak would be offered a high level position without the knowledge and/or approval of Barack Obama. If Sestak is not credible he can all but kiss that Senate seat goodbye.
The Obama White House almost always assumes they are above dealing with the consequences of their own actions. Watch them find a way to make this about Bush. It won't be so easy for them this time, however. Axelrod brought the issue to the fore in the media today when he claimed there was no evidence Sestak was offered a job as quid pro quo if Sestak dropped from the race. Let's be honest, the media generally lets the administration slide with nary a challenge to the Obama version of events. Joe Sestak, however, will be a constant reminder the allegation hangs like the sword of Damocles over the administration and the Sestak candidacy. Sekulu describes the allegation as a "tempest in a tea pot that is about to blow." Frankly there have been many a tempest brewed in minor tea pots as Democrats should know all too well. How big a deal did the Valerie Plame nonsense become? Bribery is a powder keg and Sekulu isn't the only one who thinks it's about to blow:
Uh oh, things are starting to look a little bleak for Arlen Specter in the upcoming Democratic primary on May 18th in Pennsylvania. Sestak has opened a 5 point lead over Specter. The latest survey reveals Sestak with 47% while Specter has 42%. The poll has a margin of error of exactly 5 points. Rasmussen shows the same numbers for both candidates. Toomey has held a lead over both candidates according to the most recent Rasmussen poll. MUHLPOLL050910
The Other McCain has called upon loyal members of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the VRWC to unite in order to insure the victory of "geriatric crapweasel" Arlen Specter in the forthcoming Democratic primary for the US Senate. As McCain notes, there is good reason to be concerned the Specter spectre may be fading prematurely. A recent Rasmussen poll shows Sestak within two points of Specter with a full 10% still undecided. Though Rasmussen's poll might appear to be an outlier Margin of Error blogger Harry Joe Enten took a look at PA polling from previous elections and suggests other pollsters may be playing catch up to Rasmussen:
I would not dismiss Rasmussen out of hand. A little dip into the polling archive reveals that a Quinnipiac poll taken around this time for the 2004 Republican Senate Primary had then Republican Specter leading Pat Toomey by 15%. A Quinnipiac poll taken only two weeks later had Specter up by only 5%. He would go on to win by only 2%. So maybe it will be the other pollsters playing catchup to Rasmussen... Only time will tell.
While time will surely tell, Pennsylvania is running short of that commodity with the primaries scheduled to take place May 18th. It is critical Snarlin Arlen is snatched from the jaws of defeat for the sole purpose that he lives to fight and lose another day, November 2, 2010.. Ruby Slippers has been able to obtain the secret minutes from the most recent meeting of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the VRWC. The minutes contain a series of talking points that offer members specific guidelines for convincing their Democratic friends and neighbors why they should embrace Specter in the Democratic primary:
Specter didn't defect to the Democratic party, he merely returned to his natural home. VRWC members consider their relationship with Specter a painful tale of unrequited love. Members so loved Arlen and his many, many, many years of government experience we set him free. Alas he didn't come back to us, now he is YOURS. We're jealous but forgiving. Seriously we are.
Arlen really does respect women. That whole thing with Michelle Bachmann was, well - you know -because it was Michelle Bachmann. (Note: for added effect it is suggested members roll their eyes when saying the name Michelle Bachmann. Liberals can't resist the opportunity to whine about Bachmann. This will give a moment of solidarity with your mark liberal Democratic friend or neighbor. )
Arlen has been truly devoted to his long-lost loves, the Democrats. He went along without question for the whole shinola sandwich, health care, stimulus, porkulus and he would surely support cap and trade and card check. Shouldn't Arlen be rewarded for his loyalty? Come on you owe this guy, he paved the way for a filibuster proof Senate remember?
Why should West Virginians have all the fun watching their aging crapweasel get wheeled in at the last minute to cast the necessary vote for some long-awaited legacy of the Democrats to be fulfilled? Come on, you know you envied those West Virginians who sat back smugly knowing their crapweasel would arrive in time to save the day. There is certain truth to that old Billy Joel song after all.
The last point is Arlen's big selling point, he'll show up to cast that final vote come hell or high water. Sestak - not so much. Join RS McCain and the Pennsylvania chapter of the VRWC in fighting to give the Democrats in Pennsylvania the candidate they truly deserve. Feel free to repost this video and use the secret talking points freely. Beating Joe Sestak wouldn't be nearly as much fun as delivering the knock out punch to Snarlin' Arlen in November. At least we know Arlen would show up:
First, via Right Pundits a recent poll shows Toomey leading Specter by a stunning 12 points. The survey was conducted by Rasmussen who polled 1000 likely voters on the Pennsylvania Senate election for 2010. In a head-to-head match up of Joe Sestak and Patrick Toomey, Toomey held a smaller though decisive lead of 8 points. This was a dramatic change from the previous poll conducted in June where Specter led Toomey by 11 points. Rasmussen also found that Pennsylvanians oppose health care 53 to 42. The opposition is firm too, as Rasmussen notes:
But the intensity is clearly with those who are opposed to the plan. Just 21% of Keystone State voters Strongly Favor the plan while 41% are Strongly Opposed.
Rasmussen's Daily Tracking Poll shows President Obama's total approval at a new low of 47% with 52% disapproving. More below the cut:
There is growing trust for Republicans over Democrats on specific issues with Republicans now more trusted on 9 of 10 measures overall. Independents trust Republicans in 10 of 10:
