Specter, Sestak duel on the air in Pa. Senate race

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The candidates in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate have taken their duel to television.

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak began airing his first ad today, touting his accomplishments as a Navy vice admiral and emphasizing that he’s not a “career politician.”

The fifth-term incumbent Arlen Specter first aired his own ad last Wednesday. Today, he began airing a new ad attacking Sestak as “No Show Joe” for missing more votes than any other Pennsylvania congressman last year.

The two-term suburban Philadelphia congressman says he missed some votes while traveling the state to decide whether to challenge Specter and also missed some votes while his father was dying.

Specter is running as a Democrat after switching parties last year.

The primary is May 18.