Inquirer endorses Specter, Toomey in Senate primaries

Pennsylvania's largest newspaper is urging primary voters to elect Arlen Specter and Pat Toomey on May 18, setting up the same contest voters faced in 2004 when Specter narrowly defeated an unknown Toomey.

Things are different in 2010. Specter, a 30-year incumbent, fled the Republican Party last year when it became clear he would lose to Toomey in the primary. Now Democrats have to hold their nose and vote for a man willing to abandon his party if it prevents him from holding on to his office.

From the endorsement editorials in The Philadelphia Inquirer:

The case for Specter:

Democratic voters must decide whether this 80-year-old newcomer to their party is worthy of their support. After all, over the years Specter has cast his share of votes they didn't like; he favored conservative judges and opposed same-sex marriage.

Yet, when you look at the sum of his career and what it has meant to Pennsylvania, you have to conclude he's a good choice for Democrats, which is why The Inquirer endorses ARLEN SPECTER for the Democratic nomination.

The case for Toomey:

Toomey is clearly the strongest candidate in the May 18 Republican primary, and he will be tough for any Democrat to beat in November. That's why The Inquirer endorses PAT TOOMEY for the Republican Party nomination.

Toomey came so close to beating Specter in the 2004 primary that the possibility of a rematch led Specter to switch parties last year.