Pa. state Sens skeptical of Specter’s efforts to change primary rules
Buried at the bottom of this AP story on Sen. Arlen Specter’s (R-Pa.) re-election bid is this juicy tidbit: Pennsylvania state senators are reluctant to support Specter’s efforts to change primary rules to allow independents to vote.
In recent days, Specter has quietly lobbied Republicans who control the state Senate to support a proposal that would allow independents to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary. He has called individual senators and spoke before the entire caucus – on that and other subjects – earlier this week.
One senator who attended the caucus said it was tough sell.
“It was apparent that he wanted the support” of the caucus, said Sen. John H. Eichelberger, R-Blair, who supports Toomey. “I could tell from the looks in the room and the comments that were made that there wasn’t much support for it.”
The Hill reported last week that Specter was pressuring the state Senate to change the rules. Such a change would be hugely beneficial to Specter, who is facing another challenge from former Rep. Pat Toomey (R). Specter is popular with independents but disliked among Pennsylvania Republicans who are to his right. Those voters are likely to be Toomey’s candidacy.
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