Rep. Joe Sestak jumped into the PA Senate race yesterday, challenging newly Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter.

I don’t know if he actually intended to announce his candidacy yesterday — after all it was a handwritten letter (below) that was leaked to TalkingPointsMemo.com:
Letter from Rep. Sestak

The note says, “I am writing you as especially dear supporters to let you know I intend to run for the U.S. Senate…my candidacy’s credibility will have much to do with my fundraising success by the 30 June FEC filing deadline at the end of this quarter. Would you help me bring the change for the future we Pennsylvanians need[?]”

Despite Obama’s efforts to clear the field in the wake of Senator Specter’s party switch, Representative Sestak still decided to run.  This is important — it will foster a real debate and will give primary a voters a choice, possibly forcing Specter to move to the left and come around on EFCA and healthcare reform.

Rep. Sestak said, “We have to ask the question will [Specter] be with the right policies that our president has put out there… There’s too much doubt in my mind not to have the intent right now to get in this race, pending just a little time with my family to make sure we’re all together.”

Rep. Sestak visited us in the Spring of ‘08 and we look forward to hosting both him and Sen. Specter on campus next semester.