Santorum, speaking at the annual Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans last weekend,was taking some heat from conservative audience members for his former support for Arlen Specter. Santorum let fly that he decided to endorse Specter for re-election in 2004 -- when Specter faced a ferocious primary challenge from conservative former Lehigh Valley Congressman and Club for Growth president Pat Toomey -- because of an alleged deal the senators struck over future Supreme Court nominees. Santorum claimed, “The reason I ended up endorsing Arlen Specter was because we had two Supreme Court justices coming up in the next year … and I got a commitment out of Arlen Specter that no matter who George Bush would nominate, he would fight and defend that nominee … and we have Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.” Specter went on to beat Toomey narrowly for the GOP Senate nomination. Toomey's running again this spring for the GOP Senate nomination against conservative activist Peg Luksik.
Sestak seized on Santorum’s revelation. “We always had reason to suspect Arlen Specter would do anything for political survival. Now we have the smoking gun,” Sestak blogged on Saturday. “Specter sold out to the radical right in a quid pro quo for Rick Santorum's endorsement and help winning an election. He pledged to exploit his influence as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee to give anyone picked by George W. Bush a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court -- no matter how partisan, no matter how unqualified. Why should we believe Santorum's assertion? At the time, after the far-right threatened to block Specter from the chairmanship, it was reported that he met with Santorum and emerged with this statement: "I have no reason to believe that I'll be unable to support any individual President Bush finds worthy of nomination." Santorum is now clarifying that he extracted a firm pledge that Arlen Specter would do as he was told. This goes far beyond politics. This strikes at the foundation of our democracy. Specter didn't just sell out his own integrity this time. As your Senator, he sold you out. He sold us all out. This is about trust.”
Rick Santorum’s admission is stunning. As Sen. Specter has said on numerous occasions, short of declaring war, confirming presidential nominees to the United States Supreme Court is one of the most important functions of a senator. The justices wield incredible power in these lifetime appointments and their decisions touch every American. Many find the idea that a confirmation vote can be secured for a political endorsement shocking and, frankly, un-American.
Santorum spokeswoman Vanessa Davis initially stood by her boss’ comments, saying, “There was no better illustration of that commitment than Senator Specter’s ardent defense of both Justices Alito and Roberts during their confirmation hearings.”
Specter quickly denied Santorum’s claim. “I never made any promise to Senator Santorum about this. I would never make a promise on a vote like this under any circumstances,” he wrote in a statement released to the media.
Muhlenberg College associate professor of political science and pollster Chris Borick commented via email, “Santorum's support for Specter has turned out to be an albatross for him. His otherwise spotless conservative credentials are marred by going to bat for him in 2004 and he is trying to paint that decision in the best light possible as he flirts with a presidential bid. Santorum may also be interested in complicating matters for Specter in his Democratic primary and making him use some time and effort in addressing the claim.” Will the charges stick and move Sestak’s poll numbers? Borick replied, “It might be a nice piece of material for Sestak in his efforts to paint Specter as anything but a true Democrat. It's a good example of how Specter will make any concession for political expediency. However, there has been no shortage of such material that questions Specter’s Democratic standing so I'm not so sure that this piece of info will help Sestak much in the long term.”
Sestak is sitting on about $5 million for a final ad campaign expected over the airwaves in the coming weeks. Specter's not waiting. He hit the airwaves and cable Wednesday in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie and Altoona with his first ads touting his help in securing pensions for laid-off Pennsylvanians.
Specter and Sestak are set to face-off in the primary’s only debate on May 1 in Philadelphia. We have invited Sen. Specter to join our conversation on Smart Talk. We maintain an open invitation for him to appear on the program leading up to the May 18 primary and hope he will take us up on the offer.
While Sestak can’t seem to gain traction with primary voters, Specter has had some rough moments lately, too. Last week, he misspoke and thanked College Republicans rather than College Democats at State College for their support. And, he is getting antsy to move up in seniority and is pressing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to promote him to upcoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. With more Supreme Court retirements likely, Specter wants that coveted leadership post that he lost when he switched parties last spring. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to rally for Specter next week in Scranton, his first visit to his hometown since October 2008.
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