Effort to open PA primary could aid Specter

I mentioned this a while back, but it’s now official: a state lawmaker in Pennsylvaia is trying to open up the state’s primaries.

According to the Pocono Record:

HB 16472 was introduced June 11. The next day, it was referred to the state government committee which may consider the bill through a hearing, or vote on it. If it passes the committee, it will go to a full house vote.

Such an approach could feasibly help Specter (D-Pa.) win the Democratic primary, too, as he prepares for a challenge from the left from Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.).

The timing could be more than coincidental.

When The Hill sat down with Specter before his party switch, he talked about opening up the primaries in Pennsylvania to independent voters, in the name of helping him defeat a conservative primary challenger. He acknowledged he was contacting state legislators in hopes of doing just that.

The same could now be said of the Democratic primary, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Specter has at least a hand in what’s going on in Harrisburg.

And with Sestak all but in the race, now is a good time to get this kind of story in the news.