Joe Sestak has never stopped running.
He lost a tough race to Republican Pat Toomey back in 2010, but instead of retreating, he kept pounding the pavement, visiting every corner of Pennsylvania, in part to thank those who supported him, in part to increase his visibility across the state.
Joe Sestak has never stopped running.
He taught a course at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, giving him a beachhead in the western part of the state. He’s also been teaching at Penn State, Dickinson and Cheyney.
The course he has been offering tells you a lot about him - and why he’s now running for a rematch against Toomey. The class is in ethical leadership.
Sestak is basing his campaign on that theme. He believes there is a trust deficit in Washington.
And he points to Toomey as a prime example, a person who says one thing here in Pennsylvania, then does another in the nation’s capital.
He jabs at the Republican’s votes against veterans issues and small business.
Right now, Sestak is taking a break from running - to take a walk instead.
The former admiral last week kicked off his campaign for the Democratic nomination in a pair of classic Reebok high-top sneakers that seemed to gain a life of their own. Then he donned a pair of combat boots and announced his decision to walk 422 miles across Pennsylvania. In his words, to “walk in the shoes” of Pennsylvanians, hear their issues and listen to their concerns.
First he might have to resolve the concerns of some Democratic leaders.
A lot of them are saying not nice things about him.
Sestak stopped in our office this week for a meeting with our editorial board.
The first question I asked him is why are so many Democratic leaders saying bad things about him.
Sestak smiled.
He knew the question was coming.
Sestak has had a bit of a strained relationship with his party’s brass since poking them in the eye with his decision to ignore their pleas and challenge Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in the 2010 Dem primary.
Sestak beat them both - Sestak and his own party leaders, including Ed Rendell, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. All had urged him to step aside.
But he couldn’t beat Toomey, although he came close in a year when Dems got clobbered from coast to coast.
Now he’s taking his message to the people, and listening to their concerns.
He does not seem especially concerned about the misgivings of party leaders, several of whom have indicated they do not believe he can beat Toomey.
So far non one else has come forward to challenge Sestak for the Democratic nomination.
I expect that will change.
I fully expect something else will not.
Joe Sestak has no intention of stopping running.
It should be a most interesting primary.
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