Pat Toomey

Pat Toomey is a former Congressman from Pennsylvania and a staunch conservative, with traditional laissez-faire attitudes about business management. Toomey is considered likely to be the next Republican candidate for the newly Democratic Arlen Specter's seat.Philadelphia Inquirer: Toomey poised to take on Specter (March 23, 2009) FoxNews: After Party Switch, Most Consider Specter's Re-Election a Foregone Conclusion (April 28, 2009)

Toomey came close to beating Specter in the 2004 Republican primary, and he had been planning a shot at the governor of the state in 2010, when Specter was one of three Republicans who voted to support President Obama's stimulus package.Philadelphia Inquirer: Toomey poised to take on Specter (March 23, 2009)

On March 7, 2009, Toomey announced that he would likely run for the Senate. In a poll of likely Republican voters in Pennsylvania published on April 21, 2009 Toomey received 51% of the vote, while Specter only obtained 30%. Nearly a quarter of a million Pennsylvanians have switched their vote from Republican to Democrat in the last two years, leaving the Republican party in Pennsylvania smaller and more conservative.My Fox: Poll: Toomey Has Early Lead On Specter (April 21, 2009) Philadelphia Inquirer: Toomey poised to take on Specter (March 23, 2009)

With the defection of Arlen Specter from the Republican party on April 28, 2009, Toomey is almost certain to be the party's next candidate for Specter's Senate seat. Given the decrease in total number of Republicans in the state, it is also considered that Toomey will lose to a Democratic Specter in the next election.FoxNews: After Party Switch, Most Consider Specter's Re-Election a Foregone Conclusion (April 28, 2009)