Three high-profile Democrats here are endorsing U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak in his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter next year, bucking their party's establishment.  

Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Lehman, city Councilman Tim Roschel and a state committeewoman from Manheim Township, Janet Spleen, will endorse the Delaware County lawmaker during his scheduled appearance here this afternoon.

The endorsement puts them on opposite sides of the race from notable Specter backers at the national, state and even local levels. President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell have said they are supporting Specter. 

State Democratic Party chairman T.J. Rooney has said the five-term lawmaker will enjoy "the full support and financial commitment" of the party establishment. Locally, city Council President Nelson Polite is backing Specter.

Still, as today's event illustrates, some in the party appear to be skeptical of the former Republican, who switched parties earlier this year when it became clear he would have a tough time beating Republican Pat Toomey, a former congressman, in a GOP primary.

"A year ago at this time, we were doing everything we could to get Obama elected, and he was doing everything he could to get McCain elected," Roschel said of Specter. "A couple of months later, he says, 'Hey, vote for me.' The natural reaction would be, I wouldn't say bitterness, but you're always going to think, well, if you weren't with us a year ago ...

"I'm not against Specter, but I'm certainly for Congressman Sestak."

He said he believes Sestak, a co-sponsor or the Employee Free Choice Act, has been far clearer and consistent about his positions on labor and health care reform.

"Sen. Specter has been ambivalent at best," Roschel said.

Lehman, speaking of Sestak, said he sees a candidate who is trustworthy, thoughtful and has integrity. 

"I see public service at all levels — whether it be federal, state or local — becoming more and more challenging," Lehman said. "I'm looking for someone I have confidence in, who does their homework and who will be there fighting for what they believe is right for the country and for Pennsylvania. For me, Joe is that person.

"As far as Specter switching parties, I think he had no choice. Do I understand why Governor Rendell, President Obama and Senator Casey all encouraged Arlen to switch from Republican to Democrat? I do understand. They're concerned about the next 16 to 17 months," Lehman said.

Specter's defection gave the Democrats a filibuster-proof 60 votes in the Senate and the ability to advance significant pieces of Obama's agenda.

Lehman said he's hopeful that Sestak's candidacy will ignite enough of a grass-roots movement among Pennsylvania Democrats to sway the party's elite. 

"I think it's possible," Lehman said, "that Joe Sestak will generate enough support that perhaps President Obama, Governor Rendell and Senator Casey will rethink their support for Senator Specter."

Several public-opinion polls taken earlier this summer showed Specter holding a comfortable double-digit lead over Sestak among Democrats. 

Several other local Democrats, including congressional candidate Lois Herr, Lancaster city Mayor Rick Gray and state Rep. Mike Sturla, said they are either staying out of what is certain to be a bruising race or at least waiting until the primary is closer.

Lehman, Roschel and Spleen will appear with Sestak at 2 p.m. today in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Penn Square. 

Sestak is expected to call for more action to boost the economy and to criticize the Senate's stimulus bill (the one that became law) because it cut billions of dollars in spending on mass transit, highway and bridge projects from the House version 

E-mail: tmurse@lnpnews.com.