Democratic Campaign Arm Backs Specter

It's not customary for the national parties to get involved in primary races--they generally refrain from endorsements and spending until general elections--but the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is spending a significant amount of money to help Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter (D) win his May 18 primary, Hotline OnCall's Reid Wilson reports.

Specter is facing a tough challenge from the left, mounted by Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA). The most recent major polls show Specter leading by anywhere from four to 14 percentage points. Specter curried some Democratic-Party favor by defecting from the GOP in the April of 2009, giving Democrats their short-lived 60-seat supermajority in the Senate.