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Specter Is Up and Running

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) is up with his first television advertisement of his 2010 re-election bid making him the first incumbent Senator this cycle to hit the airwaves.In the spot, an announcer blasts former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) for his background in the financial sector. Toomey came within 17,000 votes of defeating Specter in their 2004 GOP primary battle and has indicated but not yet officially announced that he will run against him again in 2010.“Pat Toomey, as a Wall Street trader he sold risky derivatives called credit default swaps’ the same swaps that have plunged us into this financial mess,— says the announcer. “In Congress, Toomey fought for less oversight of Wall Street. He even wants to gamble our Social Security accounts in the stock market. Now Toomey wants a bonus: a seat in the United States Senate. Should we let him have it?—Public polling for the GOP primary has shown Specter trailing the more conservative Toomey by double digits, 41 to 28 percent. Whoever survives the primary will undoubtedly face a tough battle in the general election — Senate Democrats have declared the seat a top target in 2010.Specter’s venture into television this early underscores the high stakes of his election. But the moderate Republican can certainly afford it — at the end of 2008, Specter reported having $5.8 million in his campaign account.According to Specter campaign manager Christopher Nicholas, the TV ads will run on cable across the state starting Thursday. The total cost of the buy was $100,000.

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