A reader sends along this memo from Arlen Specter’s (brief) 1996 presidential campaign. In it, consultant Roger Stone outlines a strategy based on the notion that the “strength of the ‘Religious Right’ in Republican primaries is overestimated.”
Back in 1992, there was no senator that Democrats—particularly female Democrats—were more eager to beat than Arlen Specter, who the previous fall had listened to Anita Hill's claims of sexual harassment and responded by accusing Hill of "flat-out perjury."
And they almost did beat him—with a candidate named Lynn Yeakel, a previously unknown fund-raiser Read More
Back in 1992, there was no senator that Democrats-particularly female Democrats-were more eager to beat than Arlen Specter, who the previous fall had listened to Anita Hill’s claims of sexual harassment and responded by accusing Hill of “flat-out perjury.”
And they almost did beat him-with a candidate named Lynn Yeakel, a previously unknown fund-raiser Read More
Arlen Specter and the Democratic Party leadership cut a deal that makes plenty of sense on the surface: Specter is rescued from a doomed Republican primary campaign that would have ended his 30-year Senate career next year, while Democrats pick up what will be (after Al Franken is finally seated) their 60th vote in the Read More
Arlen Specter and the Democratic Party leadership cut a deal that makes plenty of sense on the surface: Specter is rescued from a doomed Republican primary campaign that would have ended his 30-year Senate career next year, while Democrats pick up what will be (after Al Franken is finally seated) their 60th vote in the Read More
Probably one of the few people in New York who knows how Arlen Specter feels right now is Michael Bloomberg.
(Specter was a Democrat until 1966, then he became a Republican, and then today he became a Democrat again.)
So, what did the mayor have to say about Specter leaving the Republican Party?
Read More
Probably one of the few people in New York who knows how Arlen Specter feels right now is Michael Bloomberg.
(Specter was a Democrat until 1966, then he became a Republican, and then today he became a Democrat again.)
So, what did the mayor have to say about Specter leaving Read More
Forty-four years after he left the Democratic Party to launch his political career, Arlen Specter is returning to the fold in an effort to save it, announcing just moments ago that he will leave the Republican Party and seek re-election in Pennsylvania next year as a Democrat. Among the implications of this move: Read More
Forty-four years after he left the Democratic Party to launch his political career, Arlen Specter is returning to the fold in an effort to save it, announcing just moments ago that he will leave the Republican Party and seek re-election in Pennsylvania next year as a Democrat. Among the implications of this move:
* Read More
There really shouldn't be any way out of the political mess in which Arlen Specter finds himself.
For decades, he's irked his party's conservative base with one high-profile apostasy after another. But he's also made sure to throw just enough bones their way to prevent an intraparty uprising from toppling him—as when he beat back, Read More
