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Fundraising shows GOP 'energized' in taking seat away from Specter

Fundraising shows GOP 'energized' in taking seat away from Specter

WASHINGTON -- In the polls and in fundraising, Republican Pat Toomey is keeping pace with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in a race for the Republican-turned-Democrat's seat next year.

Campaign finance reports released yesterday showed that Mr. Specter raised $1.82 million from July 1 to Sept. 30; Mr. Toomey was not far behind with $1.55 million.

Mr. Specter got a $1 million boost from a fundraising dinner with President Barack Obama in Philadelphia on Sept. 15 and has the backing of the national party, but Mr. Toomey has the benefit of a riled-up Republican Party.

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"I think it's very unusual," G. Terry Madonna, a pollster and political analyst at Franklin and Marshall College, said of Mr. Toomey's haul.

"It highlights the fact that Republicans are energized to support Toomey given Arlen Specter's switch. It demonstrates, as all the polls do, that this race is likely to be competitive."

A poll taken last week by Susquehanna Polling and Research showed Mr. Specter leading Mr. Toomey 42-41.

Mr. Specter switched from Republican to Democrat in April, in part to avoid a primary challenge from Mr. Toomey -- the former congressman who almost beat him in a Republican primary in 2004.

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But before he can think about the general election bid for a sixth term, Mr. Specter must first face Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Delaware County, in the Democratic primary. The campaign for Mr. Sestak, who defied the wishes of the national party to run against Mr. Specter, did not make its finance report available yesterday. Third-quarter reports must be filed today.

Mr. Specter does have a vast advantage in total funds. The incumbent has $8.71 million in cash on hand, according to the finance disclosure, while Mr. Toomey is sitting on $1.81 million.

But Mr. Specter's reserves likely will be depleted by the primary race, in which the Susquehanna poll showed Mr. Specter with a 44-16 lead.

Mr. Toomey's primary opponent is conservative activist Peg Luksik, who is not considered to be a stiff challenge.

The backing of the national Democratic Party -- which wooed him over to be the crucial 60th vote in the Senate -- will be a continued boon to Mr. Specter's bank account. Vice President Joe Biden will appear with Mr. Specter on Monday at Heinz Field for a fundraiser.

"Specter will have all the money that he needs," Mr. Madonna said. "He's not going to suffer from having insufficient money. He's going to need it, and he's going to spend it."

First Published: October 15, 2009, 4:00 a.m.

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