Sen. Specter declines to talk Dem chances in Pennsylvania Senate race

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) declined to comment on Democratic Senate nominee Joe Sestak’s chances of winning Specter’s seat.

The five-term incumbent, who switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party, lost to Rep. Sestak in the May Democratic primary.

When asked about Sestak’s chances in November, Specter said: “I’m late for the squash court, so I’m gonna defer that to when I can answer in one spot.”

Specter was questioned by reporters in Philadelphia, where he greeted President Obama upon the president’s arrival in the city. Obama landed in Pennsylvania Monday to attend a fundraiser for Sestak.

After Specter said he was late for squash, reporters tried again, with one asking: “Should I interpret that as not very well?”

“Ah, I’m late for the squash court,” Specter said, according to the pool report.

A poll for the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader released earlier Monday found Republican Pat Toomey with 40 percent of the vote to 36 percent for Sestak and 24 percent undecided.

— This post was updated at 5:19 p.m.