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Saturday, December 07, 2002

U.S. SENATE: Specter will run again

Potentially facing a tough Senate primary, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter announced yesterday that he will run for a fifth term when he is up for re-election in 2004.

Questions about Specter's candidacy have been quietly percolating in Pennsylvania as Rep. Pat Toomey eyes a Republican primary challenge against the state's senior senator.

"There's no question in my mind," Specter said. "I am running."

Specter dismissed as speculative questions about a potential race against Toomey.

"I've had primaries in the past, and I'm proceeding with my own game plan," Specter said.

Specter, 72, is a moderate Republican who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980. If he wins in 2004, Specter would be the first Pennsylvanian elected to five Senate terms.

He had $5.1 million in his campaign bank account as of June 30, the latest totals available.