Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) took his turn on MSNBC moments after Andrea Mitchell interviewed Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) today, and took the opportunity — again and again — to try and link Specter with former President George W. Bush.
“I’m a Democrat out of core beliefs and core convictions,” Sestak said, adding that Specter voted with Democrats only 23 percent of the time during Bush’s presidency.
“I wish he had stood tall against George Bush much more often than 23 percent of the time.”
Sestak did give a bit of ground on whether he’d support Specter should the incumbent win today’s Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania.
“Ive told everybody that I will do anything, legally or morally, that’s right, anything to beat Pat Toomey,” Sestak said, referring to the likely Republican candidate.
And what about referring to Specter as a “dead man walking” — which many saw as a low blow knocking Specter’s health and age.
“I very much said it in the context of he will take the Democratic ticket down,” Sestak said, adding that he’s “run a very positive campaign.”
The TPM Poll Average for today’s Democratic Senate primary in Pennsylvania shows Sestak leading Specter 45.6% to 42.6%.
