By ROGER J. STONE JR.

MSNBC TV star Chris Matthews has been quietly sounding out Democrats
across Pennsylvania about seeking the Democratic nomination to oppose
Senator Arlen Specter, who shows no signs of slowing down or retiring,
in 2010.

Matthews has pondered a Senate bid in Pennsylvania before but deemed
the water too cold. Matthews has been meeting with former Philadelphia
City Comptroller Tommy Leonard and has approached Governor Ed Rendell
to inquire about recruiting campaign personnel.

Unfortunately, like Pat Buchanan before him, Chris Matthews has
hours and hours of television tape going back 20 years and thousands of
words in columns written in the same time period. His Senate bid will
die of his own words.

The New York Times Magazine will publish story by Mark Leibovich this Sunday which will illustrate the point.

Specter who has historically run strongly in non-republican
constituencies, including Jews, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians
and some Democrats, is a prodigious fundraiser and a wily survivor.
Specter's hard-line against the Bush Administration violation of the
Constitution on privacy matters has won important support for Specter
among moderates.

Although Specter has made it clear that he intends to seek the
Republican nomination, his brand in Pennsylvania, like Lieberman in
Connecticut, would allow him to run as an Independent if the Republican
Primary becomes troublesome. Specter has made no indication that he is
considering this option but it is still a fact. I expect a vigorous
Specter to be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in
Pennsylvania in 2010.

As Specter is one of my oldest friends in the Senate, I will do whatever I can to help him.

As for Chris Matthews - see you in Philadelphia.

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