Pocono News Section

Voters Say It Was Specter's Time to Go

Voters Say It Was Specter's Time to Go - Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 04:08AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Wednesday May 19 2010
0/ 5 rating

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Switching from republican to democrat last year couldn't save Arlen Specter's 2010 Primary Election run. And while voters' ballots spoke volumes in Tuesday's election, people still had more to say, Wednesday, about why Specter's career in the Senate is coming to an end. "It's time. It's just time for a new generation of leadership," said Democratic Senate Nominee Joe Sestak election night. And voters agreed by giving him the victory over five term incumbent Arlen Specter. "I see where Mr. Specter lost and at 80 years of age, I think it's about time he pack it in," said Harold Kornfeld of Scranton. He wasn't the only customer at Chick's Diner in Scranton Wednesday morning who felt that way about Sen. Specter. "He's 80 years old for one thing, said John Gallo of Fleetville. "He's just too old, period." Gallo's wife, Muriel, agreed. "I don't believe that anyone can do justice for the people at that age," she said. And age isn't the only reason some say Specter had to go. "Oh, I'm for term limits," said Mrs. Gallo. That's also what Chick's Diner waitress Gail Kakareka believes. "I think after a certain amount of years or whatever it's time for the next guy," she said.

Sen. Specter had some high-powered endorsements from the Obama administration including Scranton native Joe Biden and Senator Bob Casey, another Scranton native son. But some say that didn't matter. "The people voted. Not the party. The people," said Ms. Kakareka. In defeat Tuesday night, Sen. Specter said, "It's been a great privilege to be in the United States Senate." Some say ending his 30-year run in Washington is just a start. "Make a change, okay. It's time, it's time," said Mr. Kornfeld. " Too many bad things are happening in all phases of politics."

Even though everyone whom Eyewitness News interviewed at Chick's Diner said it was time to make a change in the Senate, ironically Lackawanna County overall didn't agree. Lackawanna, Dauphin and Philadelphia counties were the only three Pennsylvania counties that Specter carried. The other 64 counties lined up behind Sestak.