The results of a liberal online poll testing whether Congressman Joe Sestak (Pa.) should run against Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) in next years’ Democratic Senate primary are in: Liberals, it appears, really want him to jump in the race the race.
The poll was sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.
It is definitely worth noting that this is a completely voluntary online poll. That means that those who visited the site and voted were likely to be online liberal activists and/or members of that group – a/k/a probably not Specter backers.
Nevertheless, the results are extremely one sided. Nation wide, 85 pecent said Sestak should run. In Pennsylvania, 85 percent said he should run.
As we have noted earlier, it is likely that there will be a lot of liberal activists who will be willing to go to work for (or at least contribute to) a liberal Democrat against Specter. In fact, Joe Torsella, the only other Democrat currently in the race, is already looking at ways to take advantage of that phenomenon.
Sestak also responded to the poll, offering the following statement:
“I am honored that so many of you took the time to vote in the recent grassroots Straw Poll,” he said. “Let me tell you, I and many others were paying attention. If I decide to run it will be in large measure because of the grassroots energy of so many people like you.”
As far as whether he will run, there are definitely no hints there.
UPDATE: UPDATE: OK, now Sestak is on camera talking about the poll.
“We’ve obviously been watching the straw poll,” he says. “We’re quite taken by the grassroots support. I haven’t made a decision yet however, when I do, it is gong to be one of the key measures – this grassroots support – that I’m going to take into consideration.”
Check it out below:
jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com