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Toomey to challenge Specter again

by Aaron Blake - 03/05/09 6:53 PM ET

Former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will challenge Sen. Arlen Specter in a primary for the second straight cycle, according to Pennsylvania GOP sources.

The Allentown Morning Call reported Thursday that two friends of Toomey’s have said the Club for Growth chief has decided to enter the race.

{mosads}Toomey narrowly lost to Specter in a 2004 primary by less than 1 percent and recently said he was considering another run.

The paper quotes Richard Thulin, leader of the Lehigh Valley Republican Network, saying in an e-mail to supporters that “Pat’s formal announcement will be forthcoming.

“Interesting news,” he wrote. “Pat Toomey asked me to let you know that he has decided to challenge Arlen Specter.”

Reached late Thursday, Thulin confirmed the details of the e-mail, as first reported by the Morning Call.

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A Pennsylvania GOP source confirmed that he has talked to Toomey in recent days, and Toomey said he would run.

Specter has drawn jeers from the GOP for his vote in favor of the current stimulus package, in which he was joined by only two other GOP senators.

A spokeswoman for the Club for Growth could not immediately be reached for comment.

This article was updated at 7:07 p.m.

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