By Chris Stirewalt
Political Editor 2/19/09
Sen. Arlen Specter has had less concern about his reelection run next year since 2004 primary challenger Pat Toomey announced that he would not mount a second bid to unseat the eight-term Pennsylvania Republican.
But Toomey, who is building support for a gubernatorial run to succeed term-limited Gov. Ed Rendell, isn’t the only potential challenger.
Recent polls show that Specter’s decision to support President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan have cost him support at home. And there are other Republicans looking at knocking off moderate Specter.
Names being floated among Pennsylvania politicos for a possible primary challenge include Rep. Jim Gerlach, a Republican who Represents the outer suburbs of Philadelphia.
Gerlach made noise last year about a possible gubernatorial run himself, but with Toomey looking strong in the Republican primary for governor and Specter looking weaker, Keystone State Republicans wonder if Gerlach wouldn’t be better suited for the Senate.
The hope among some prominent Western Pennsylvania Republicans is that Gerlach, a fiscal conservative with more liberal social leanings, might be able to pick off moderate Republicans angry over Specter’s spending and still maintain most of Toomey’s coalition that almost prevailed in 2004.
It’s a stretch, seeing as Toomey’s support depended on both his strong conservative stances on matters monetary and moral.
But if Gerlach, 53, showed proper zeal for fiscal restraint and low taxes, he might even win the endorsement of Toomey’s group, The Club for Growth. Voting against the stimulus was probably a good start in that direction.
As one Pennsylvania poll watcher pointed out, “Conservative Republicans may be so tired of Arlen Specter that they would settle for half of what they want.”
Gerlach’s office had no comment on any possible run, and said the congressman was “focused on serving the people of the Sixth District” and was busy traveling the district and talking to his constituents.
