Roll Call says Pennsylvania’s Republican representatives in Congress, including Rep. Joe Pitts, are staying out of what is expected to be a blockbuster of a race in 2010 — despite calls from National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn to unite behind Sen. Arlen Specter in his matchup against Pat Toomey.
The state’s Republican House Members indicated in separate interviews that they are not ready to endorse Specter, who faces a challenge next year from former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in what is likely to be the toughest battle of his 30-year Senate career.
Specter enjoyed the support of almost everyone in the delegation in 2004, when he narrowly defeated Toomey by less than 2 percent in the GOP primary. But with Specter trailing Toomey in polling on next year’s rematch, Pennsylvania Members aren’t inclined to choose sides for now.
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Rep. Joe Pitts was one of the state’s two Republican Members who stayed neutral in the last primary (then-Rep. Melissa Hart was the other). Pitts said he doesn’t plan on changing that position six years later.
“I’ve got two friends fighting,” Pitts said. “I’m not going to get between them.”
Pitts said he has not spoken with Toomey for months but considers both Toomey and Specter to be personal friends.
“I served with Pat. I served with Arlen,” Pitts said. “And whoever wins, I’ve got to live with them, and I’m not going to get between them if they fight, if they’re the two.”
