Republican National Conovention

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter: Getty Images PhotoST. PAUL, MINN. -- U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Philadelphia) said Tuesday that he expects an opponent in the primary when he runs for re-election in 2010.

"I do," he told reporters while seated in a cafe in the downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel. "I think I'll have an opponent in the primary, and I think I'll have an opponent in the general."

The longtime senator did not seem concerned about a potential challenge. He quoted a line from pitching great Satchel Paige that he said describes his election philosophy.

"Never look back -- somebody may be gaining," he said.