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Specter Prepared for 2010 if Opponent is Chris Matthews or Not
November 30, 2008 10:17 AM
ABC News' Tahman Bradley Reports: Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., declined to comment on reports that MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews is considering launching a bid for his U.S. Senate seat in 2010. Whether Matthews enters the fray or not, Specter told CNN he will be ready for a tough re-election battle.
"I long ago adopted the philosophy of Satchel Paige, the old pitcher, and that is I never look over my shoulder, never look behind. Somebody may be gaining on me. I run with blinders," Specter said on the program "Late Edition".
Specter, seeking a sixth term, noted that he must first survive the Republican primary in 2010 before he worries about a Democratic opponent.
"I'll be prepared, whoever my opponents are."
Speculation about a Matthews bid grew last week after reports that the "Hardball" host met with Pennsylvania Democratic Party leaders about a possible run and had started hiring staff. A Matthews spokesperson, however, told Politico the report that he's staffed up is "absolutely not true."
Matthews is a Philadelphia native who was an aide to former House Speaker Tip O'Neill and a presidential speech writer in the Carter Administration. His contract with MSNBC reportedly expires in June.
The newly appointed Democratic in charge of getting Democrats elected to the Senate, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, also appearing on "Late Edition", was asked by host Wolf Blitzer if he's ready to stand by Matthews should he enter the race.
"I haven't seen any firm announcement by anyone in terms of running. Obviously, you know, we're going to be looking at the whole universe of seats that are up, keeping our incumbents strong and in a position to win re-election, looking at open seats that may become open, and then, of course, challengers."
November 30, 2008 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (16)
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the guy is a total moron, i certainly hope not.
Posted by: stella | Nov 30, 2008 11:05:17 AM
Total caveman
Posted by: Ken | Nov 30, 2008 11:34:44 AM
Does Matthews currently live in PA? If not, then he has NO business running for a Senate seat. Without living here, how can he possibly know what the needs of Pennsylvanians are? And do we really want someone with as much tenure as Specter gone? Then we would be left with two newcomers - who would have NO political clout in the Senate for PA.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | Nov 30, 2008 11:49:17 AM
I can't stand Matthews anymore. He made a fool out of himself drooling over Obama. Go buy Larry's book! For a year this man has been telling the truth!
Posted by: Fae | Nov 30, 2008 12:11:46 PM
Arlen, the elite, has been feeding at the trought for 30 years and look at the mess he's helped get us into. He allowed jobs and companies to move offshore to avoid fair wages and fair share of taxes. He's got us into this deregulation of banks, utilities and insurance companies. Arlen's let foreign companies and governments buy our ports, highway toll roads and utilitites where they have an absolute monopoly, no competition. Specter has allowed this sub-prime mess, that is making companies and businesses go belly up, pension funds lose assets, and families lose their jobs and homes. Specter's done enough harm. He should apologize and get lost.
Posted by: Joe | Nov 30, 2008 12:13:52 PM
Chris Matthews will be a great senator and a change for the better and only way to send Specter into doing something else. The much needed Change in Washington will only come when there are strict term limits on senators, congressmen and women, judges and government employees just like there on the Presidency. This way larger number of Americans will have chance to serve the nation. If not it is the same old Ted Stevens, McConnells and Specters who will hog the positions in Washington while sending the youth to wars overseas, blocking the renewal and infusion of fresh blood at periodic intervals, while piling up the deficit and bailing out the poorly managed banks and financial institutions.
Posted by: gjkotw01 | Nov 30, 2008 12:47:24 PM
If it will mean getting Matthews off the airways, then I hope he runs. He has done more to pollute the national discourse than any other TV personality.
Posted by: Sgt Sally | Nov 30, 2008 1:02:31 PM
Matthews is a good if somewhat mis-wired guy. Specter is a wonderful Republican, one of the last of the breed. I should think a good man like Obama would like to see an intelligent, diligent, progressive Republican in the congress.
This progressive Democrat would vote for Specter on the basis of the quality of his srecord.
Posted by: Richard McDonough | Nov 30, 2008 4:03:59 PM
If Specter's healthy and wants to run, he'll keep his seat..He's a moderate with a solid standing as the Republican head of the Judiciary committee...There are many voters in PA who have voted for Arlen Specter more than any other pol in their lifetime...Matthews loves politics and has his heart in the right place but the guy's got an unbelievable case of attention deficit disorder.
Posted by: TruthHurts | Nov 30, 2008 5:42:06 PM
chris matthews is a bumbling, on my knees for obama, idiot. he may have a good political mind, but what he has done on MSNBC has been a disgrace. but sadly, in modern day america, i dont know if it matters. look who we just voted in for our president.
Posted by: tim | Nov 30, 2008 6:16:11 PM
Chris Matthews is a joke and any intentions he had of being in politics went out the window the night that he felt the tingle run up his leg. What a disgrace he is as a reporter(which he is considered according to MSNBC) I don't live in PA, but I would make calls and do anything possible to make sure that he does not win any sort of political seat, he is an idiot and to add anymore idiots to the senate would be downright foolish.
Posted by: Kim | Nov 30, 2008 6:19:06 PM
I like Specters but if he tries to Filibuster any of the major initiatives by an Obama administration... he is OUT!
Spector serves in PA at the mercy of the Obama Campagne. Phill is one quick email from Obama to his Millions of supporters in PA and neigboring NY/NJ/MD to being tossed out of facel.
One Filibuster and he IS OUT!
Posted by: Emily | Dec 1, 2008 7:36:33 AM
Bring it on Chris - me and millions of other Hillary supporters will make sure that the people of PA know how you have atatcked, lied about and trashed Hillary Clinton for the last 10 years.
Payback is a Bi#@!!
Posted by: csh | Dec 1, 2008 8:01:46 AM
LOL...first Al Franken...now Chris Matthews! who's next, Keith Olbermann ???
Posted by: Mike_C | Dec 1, 2008 9:38:17 AM
Has Matthews stopped tingling and erecting each time when he hears our Greatest Smartest Leader speaks.
Posted by: fat cat | Dec 2, 2008 12:33:16 PM
Chris Matthews would be a great
choice to be President Obama's
"court jester"!
Oh wait that's Al Franken's future
position! Or is it Joe Bidens
true position!
Ed Rendell just threw his hat into the
ring for "court jester" today!
So did Harry Reid!
With so many visable Morons among the
Democrat Party's leaders its a
miracle that they picked up seats in
Congress on election day!
Posted by: reaganfan | Dec 3, 2008 6:30:18 PM
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