Toomey starts campaign to oust Specter from seat

HARRISBURG (AP) -- U.S. Rep. Patrick Toomey launched the first television ad of his campaign last week to oust Republican Sen. Arlen Specter next year.
The 30-second spot hails Toomey, R-Pa., as "a new conservative leader for Pennsylvania" and casts Specter, who has held his seat since 1981, as one of the Senate's most liberal Republicans.
The TV commercial, and a 60-second radio ad that follows a similar script, are airing in the central Pennsylvania market, which includes Harrisburg, York and Lancaster.
Toomey is a third-term congressman, is Specter's only opponent in the April 27 Republican primary.
At least two Democrats have expressed interest in taking on Specter in the general election: third-term U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel and John Hanger, an energy and environmental watchdog who formerly served on the state Public Utility Commission.
Specter's campaign spokesman, Christopher Nicholas, declined to comment on Toomey's ads.
"The senator is busy doing the work the people elected him to do," he said.