INTERNAL DIVISIONS

Some Dems Stand in Specter's Way

Not everyone's thrilled about his defection.

While the big names in the Democratic Party are firmly standing behind Senator Arlen Specter's decision to cross over to their side, some liberals think he should have to run in the 2010 Democratic primary before his bid for re-election. "Elites believe that primaries are messy," said Accountability Now Co-founder Greg Greenwald. "Accountability Now believes that nothing focuses the mind of a politician on listening to citizens better than a primary." At least two Democrats-Joe Sestak and Joe Torsella- appear to still be in the running for the 2010 primary. Sestak said that Pennsylvanians, not the Washington "establishment" should decide who will run. President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, among others, have all unreservedly welcomed Specter into the fold.