Specter, well received by state GOP, touts Pa.'s importance this fall

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) Thursday morning gave no hint of the doubts he expressed a day earlier about Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin as vice president, telling the Pennsylvania delegation she brings the kind of perspective to Washington that people want.

"The man on the street knows Washington isn't working," Specter said.

His speech was a familiar one this week at the four delegation breakfasts, reminding the Republicans present that Pennsylvania is critical this fall while extolling them to actively campaign on behalf of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"It's the ground war that is critical ... if we do our jobs we'll carry Pennsylvania," Specter said. "And if we carry Pennsylvania, I think that means carrying the country."

Specter's at time tense relationship with conservatives in the state has been well documented, but he received a standing ovation at the beginning and end of his speech on this day.

Unlike former Gov. Tom Ridge, Specter sought to compliment Obama, but he eventually drew a familiar distinction between the senator from Illinois and McCain.

"We'll give him his due, but he doesn't have the experience, and it shows," he said. "Biden is capable too, but it's going to boil down to McCain vs. Obama."