Casey: Sestak would be "very competitive" vs. Specter in primary

From the WhoRunsGov Plum Line blog -- reporting on a recent public radio interview:

Here’s what Casey said:
“If Congressman Sestak runs, the next option is to have a primary that’s not … divisive and acrimonious so that we have a split in the party going in to the general election. That’s my hope.
But he’s a very strong candidate and if he runs it’ll be a very, very competitive primary.”

That’s the first acknowledgment from one of Specter’s Dem establishment supporters of the challenge Sestak poses, and could give a boost to Sestak by helping with fundraising and persuading insiders that his candidacy is real.

Specter hints at leftward shift on health care; Casey not slamming door on a primary

Doing a roundup tonight..

Daily Kos' take on Specter hinting at a leftward shift on health care -- looks like the pressure of a possible primary is starting to work.

(CNN) – Pennsylvania’s junior Sen. Bob Casey appeared to open the door Sunday for a possible challenger to Arlen Specter, the state’s senior senator and a newly-minted Democrat.

Post-Gazette Early Returns covers the results of the progressives' online SestakPoll:

Should U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak run against Arlen Specter in the Dem primary next year, he may have a good portion of the party's netroots behind him: in an online poll tied to major leftwing blogs DailyKos and Open Left, 86 percent of voters nationwide and 85 percent statewide said the formal Navy admiral should make a run against the incumbent. There were 7,501 votes cast nationwide and 949 in Pa.

Keystone Progress' latest email encourages Pennsylvanians to contact Sen. Specter and urge him to support the Senate version of the Credit Cardholder's Bill of Rights that passed the House 357-70 recently.