Democratic Senate race tightens in Pennsylvania

With just days to go before next Tuesday’s primary, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) are tied for the Democratic Senate nomination.

And even though the primary will take place after most students have left campus, student groups have been working hard to make sure Penn’s involvement is high.

However, excitement for the race between was low for most of the spring.

As the primary approaches, the battle between Specter and Sestak has grown much closer. A Franklin and Marshall College poll released Wednesday found that Sestak led Specter 38 to 36 percent among likely Democratic voters, and a Quinnipiac University poll released the same day found that Specter had a slight advantage, 44 to Sestak’s 42 percent.

Tuesday, Pennsylvanians will also choose their party’s nomination for governor, the U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate, State House of Representatives and other local positions.

There are four ballot measures in Philadelphia this primary season, on issues ranging from zoning board representation to whether the city should borrow more money to pay for transit and streets.

College freshman Graham White, the Philadelphia coordinator for Students for Specter, said there will be little on-campus activity in the coming days since most of the group’s members have already left for the summer.

However, members of the group handed out absentee ballots during finals, and Graham said many cast votes themselves.

For Students for Sestak, the final pre-election push involves working with the Philadelphia campaign offices to help out around the city, College sophomore and Penn Students for Sestak coordinator Ted Koutsoubas said.

“The momentum is on our side going into this election,” said Koutsoubas, a former Daily Pennsylvanian photo manager.

But White remained confident that Specter, who has the endorsement of President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, will pull through.

“In the end, I think President Obama’s support for Specter is going to be the deciding factor in this election,” White said.

To find out where your polling place is, visit the Pa. Department of State’s website at votespa.com.

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