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U.S. Rep. Sestak Drums Up Support Around Pa.

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Jul 14, 2009 8:32 pm US/Eastern

U.S. Rep. Sestak Drums Up Support Around Pa.

Reporting
Jon Delano
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter is a scrappy political fighter and in the last few days he has gone after likely opponent Congressman Joe Sestak, accusing him of hypocrisy.

It's a sign, says Sestak, that his challenge is real.

Sestak is not yet an announced candidate against Specter in next spring's primary, but he's gearing up by visiting Democratic leaders in all 67 counties.

Delano: "Are you getting a good reaction?"

"It's very good actually, and I'm very taken with they're looking for a credible alternative to someone else who's been in the GOP, who's done some decent things, but actually voted with President Bush time and again to give us this savage recession," says Sestak, from suburban Philadelphia. "They want to know, is there someone else we can vote for who will take us into the future."

Sestak, a Navy admiral who entered politics just a few years ago, say Democrats think Specter is in politics for the wrong reason.

"What I hear throughout this great state of Pennsylvania is that they want a politician who is in it for them, not their job, not for political calculation, but for principle," he said.

And Sestak says one issue is key everywhere in the state.

"No. 1 is job security. It's in my district and every one of the 46 counties I've visited so far," he says, "and not just jobs, but jobs that increase in real wages every year with the right strategic tax incentives for small businesses."

Specter has already attacked Sestak as a "flagrant hypocrite" for being a registered Independent and not voting in some elections while in military service.

"Look, at the end of the day, he is trying to make it about me," rebuts Sestak. "I'm a Navy admiral. I hunted terrorists as head of the Navy's anti-terrorism unit. I can take a punch. Ultimately, it's about you and the great citizens of this commonwealth and what they need for the issues."

And Sestak is just as quick to counter-charge against Specter.

"He may have become a Democrat and put a D after his name, but he has not left those Swift Boat tactics of the GOP leadership," says Sestak. "But it doesn't matter. I'll take a punch because I'm in this for Pennsylvanians."

Now as for the all-important money game, Specter has $7.5 million in the bank.

But Sestak has done well, too, raising a million during the last quarter to a grand total of $4.2 million, more than any Democratic challenger in the country.

It's another sign that this going to be one heck of a Democratic primary.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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