Crunch time for Specter vs. Sestak

After months of bluster, we are on the cusp of a crucial Primary Election in Pennsylvania.


Amazingly, the Democratic Primary for the U.S. Senate, once thought to be a “given” for Republican-turned-Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter, is a tossup.


I confess that I’m one of those who believed Congressman Joe Sestak was doing his best Don Quixote act, tilting at windmills in a political battle that – at the time – seemed to ignore political reality.


Not anymore.


I wrote about Sestak’s mission in my print column this week.


Now, it seems the race very well could be decided by turnout. Specter needs big numbers out of the city of Philadelphia to turn back the late surge of support for Sestak.


The similar surge by Democratic gubernatorial candidate state Sen.


Anthony Williams could help drive city residents to the polls. That would also benefit Specter.


There is one other factor that has become a bit more clear in the last week of the campaign. It was always the belief of most insiders that Specter would offer Democrats their best chance against the likely Republican standard-bearer, former congressman Pat Toomey.


Again, that’s not necessarily the case anymore.


One of the key findings of a recent Franklin & Marshall poll indicates that Sestak now actually has a better shot of turning back Toomey.


The time for talk – and polls – is almost over.


Joe Sestak has done something I once thought unimaginable. He is dead-even with Sen. Arlen Specter one day before the election.


Can he get over the top?


We’re about to find out.

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