In Allentown, Democrats are getting to know Joe Sestak

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:28:52 -0400

In Allentown, Democrats are getting to know Joe Sestak
He visits during statewide sweep of counties. He's set to challenge Specter in 2010

By Scott Kraus | OF THE MORNING CALL

July 21, 2009

The congressman who hopes to knock Arlen Specter out in the 2010 Democratic primary left his calling card with local party leaders at the Allentown Brew Works on Monday night.  For U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7th District, it was the 64th stop on a whirlwind get-to-know-you tour of all 67 Pennsylvania counties before he is expected to enter the race.  If and when that happens, he'll face a five-term senator who, despite switching to the Democratic Party just a month ago, has the backing of party heavyweights Gov. Ed Rendell and President Barack Obama.  But Sestak told the invited group of about 15 activists, volunteers and elected leaders that he's well aware of who's against him and that he wants the job because he's passionate about issues such as health care and jobs. 
''It's not the establishment that is trying to push me in,'' he quipped to open the evening.  Sestak, a retired Navy vice admiral from the Philadelphia suburbs, has not officially entered the race, but on Monday, he all but promised the group at the Brew Works that he will run.  ''I'm going to do this,'' he said at the close of the 45-minute sit-down. ''I cannot not do this.''  Sestak touched on his Catholic family upbringing and his 8-year-old daughter's battle with brain cancer, offered an analysis of naval strategy and how it relates to military spending, and cautioned Democrats against ''anointing'' Specter the nominee.  ''I think there should be a choice,'' Sestak said.  Whether Democratic voters choose Sestak could depend on how uncomfortable they feel with longtime Republican Specter as their standard bearer.  On that front, Sestak, who has said Specter is not a ''true Democrat,'' gained some ground with Celeste Dee of Whitehall Township, an Obama volunteer who said she has always respected Specter.  Dee said Sestak seemed genuine.  ''I like Specter, I have always liked and respected Arlen Specter,'' she said. ''That being said, Joe Sestak really swayed me this evening.''  Dee said Specter still needs to win Democratic voters' trust.  ''He needs to show us…how well he plans to align with Democratic positions on the issues,'' she said.  Lehigh County Democratic Chairman Rick Daugherty said he can't gauge how the average Democratic voter views Specter, but he thinks primary voters will pay closer attention to issues than to Specter's switch.  He said he thought Sestak made a good first impression.  ''He articulated his positions clearly and demonstrated his passion and intelligence,'' Daugherty said.  Some came into the meeting ready to back Sestak.  Steve Raysley, a steelworkers union official from Coplay, said he and other union members will back the pro-labor Sestak, no matter what their leaders say.  Courtney Robinson, a vice chairman of the Lehigh County party, said he plans to back Specter but is glad to simply have a choice.  ''Just a few years ago, it was difficult to find anybody to run for Senate,'' he said.

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In Allentown, Democrats are getting to know Joe Sestak