Specter rejected by Pa. Democrats in bid for 6th US Senate term; party nominates Sestak
By Marc Levy, APTuesday, May 18, 2010
Specter rejected by Pa. Dems in bid for 6th term
PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter has been defeated in a Pennsylvania primary in his bid for a sixth term after taking the risky step of switching to the Democratic Party.
Voters Tuesday picked U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak as the party’s nominee and rejected the 80-year-old Specter in his first Democratic campaign since his GOP defection.
Sestak took the podium at a suburban Philadelphia military academy and called the vote a win for the people over the establishment, the status quo and even Washington, D.C.
The vote also was a defeat for President Barack Obama, who supported Specter when he abandoned the Republican Party last year.
The moderate Specter cast his switch as a decision of principle after inflaming the GOP by voting for Obama’s economic stimulus bill. But many Democratic voters questioned his motives.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter has been defeated in a Pennsylvania primary in his bid for a sixth term after taking the risky step of switching to the Democratic Party.
Voters Tuesday picked U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak as the party’s nominee and rejected the 80-year-old Specter in his first Democratic campaign since his GOP defection.
Sestak took the podium at a suburban Philadelphia hotel ballroom and called the vote a win for the people over the establishment, the status quo and even Washington, D.C.
The vote also was a defeat for President Barack Obama, who supported Specter when he abandoned the Republican Party last year.
The moderate Specter cast his switch as a decision of principle after inflaming the GOP by voting for Obama’s economic stimulus bill. But many Democratic voters questioned his motives.
(This version CORRECTS Sestak at military academy, not hotel.)
Tags: Arlen specter, Barack Obama, North America, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Political Organizations, Political Parties, Sestak, United States
