Published: August 26, 2008 10:33 pm      

Swing state: Pa. could choose next president, Specter says

Pennsylvania will play a pivotal role in this year’s presidential race and “could well decide the election,” U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter said Tuesday.

During a stop in Richland Township, the long-serving Pennsylvania Republican had kind words for fellow U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, who has been selected as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s running mate.

But while predicting a tight race and calling Obama a “phenomenal campaigner,” Specter said he supports presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

“I give the nod to Senator McCain by virtue of his experience,” Specter said. “We continue to live in a very dangerous world.”

Politics was one of a variety of subjects Specter touched on while visiting Pennsylvania Highlands Community College for a “town meeting” with local residents.

The 78-year-old opened the forum by commenting on his own health. Specter announced in April that he was diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymph system.

The senator is undergoing chemotherapy treatment but said he is “at the top of my game” and maintaining a full schedule.

“I feel good,” he said. “The only problem that I have is that I haven’t got my hair back yet.”

Specter nimbly handled more than 20 questions from the audience. Some thanked him for his work, including his efforts on behalf of those with physical disabilities.

One attendee commended Specter for defending Johnstown’s National Drug Intelligence Center during a battle about the facility’s funding last year in the Senate.

“Just keep doing good work and you’ll be in good shape,” Specter told the questioner.

Others had sharp criticism for the senator, especially in regards to Congress’ initial authorization of the ongoing war in Iraq.

Specter said lawmakers were acting on the presumption that former Iraq President Saddam Hussein posed a national security threat.

“Had we known Saddam did not have weapons of mass destruction, we never would have gone into Iraq,” he said.

Other topics the senator addressed included high energy prices, illegal immigration, federal budgetary earmarks, U.S. Supreme Court nominees and oil-market speculators.

The event was recorded by Pennsylvania Cable Network.