Saturday, April 25, 2009

The Specter Of Defe... Everybody Uses That Title, I'll Just Post A Magic Card

I knew things were looking dicey for Arlen Specter. But a 51-30 deficit to Pat Toomey in the GOP primary? Okay, Rasmussen has recently shifted towards being the niche pollster of the crazy right, but I didn't expect Specter to be down by three touchdowns. Maybe an indy run would be better than staying with the GOP after all. Pennsylvania ballot laws don't allow you to Lieberman your way out of losing a primary and run as an independent, so if Toomey beats him, he's done.

Of course, going over to the other side and becoming a good Democrat would basically guarantee his survival. But after what he did to card check, I doubt there's any reasonable way to call the fire trucks to that bridge in time.

5 comments:

corvus said...

Would it be possible for him to change his mind on card check again and have all be forgiven? Or have all the redstate Democrats that have followed in his path ensured that such a move would be meaningless?

Neil Sinhababu said...

I was thinking (2) when I wrote this. But if someone has an argument for (1) I'd be happy to hear it.

ikl said...

Hasn't Rasmussen always been like this? The polls seem to be done in good faith, but everything else about the operation seems pretty ideological.

corvus said...

I Actually think the situation is closer to (2) as well, Neil. It seems like when Specter flipped, that gave space for all the Democrats who would like to be against it, but were keeping mum from internal party pressure, to voice their opposition. Now those cats are out of the bag, and can't be put back in. Specter's support is now worthless, and Labor probably knows its his fault.

Neil Sinhababu said...

Well, I guess changing his mind on card check wouldn't do anything, so we were right on that narrow issue. But of course we'd be willing to take him in regardless.