Rain a 4-letter word for Specter

The usual Heron's Nest format today will give way for live coverage throughout the day on the crucial Primary Day election coverage. See something interesting? Let me know at editor@delcotimes.com.

6:00 a.m.: One hour before the polls open, and Arlen Specter already has a problem.

For the longtime incumbent senator from Pennsylvania, rain is a four-letter word.

The common belief among most experts is that Specter needs a big showing from Philadelphia to hold off the surprisingly strong challenge from Delco U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak. Rain will put a damper on that effort.

The election is basically a tossup. The final poll of the campaign, from Quinnipiac, basically has the race has a dead heat. Sestak holds a 1-point lead, 42-41 percent.

But the really intersting thing is that, one day before the primary, there was still a huge cache of undecided voters. That block comes in at a healthy 16 percent. In addition, the poll indicates that another 25 percent of those contacted are reserving the right to change their mind.

The rain is expected to continue throughout the day. That will make things even tougher for Specter. The undecideds are moving with the momentun in the last days of the campaign to the Sestak camp. To counter that, Specter, who switched parties last spring after his crucial vote in favor of President Obama's economic stimulus program, needs a big vote in the city. Rain isn't going to help that effort.

Last night the rhetoric remained sharp - although Specter managed to find a little humor in the forecast.

He commented on the weather at one of his last campaign stops in Philadelphia.

"As soon as I got out of the car, the rain stopped," the senator quipped. "I'm a lucky guy. I don't predict the weather. I predict victory."

Sestak took on a tad sharper tone.

"His (Specter's) time has come, and gone," the retired admiral and two-terms congressman stated.

The polls open in 45 minutes. Stay tuned.

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