Pat Toomey said he will be the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010, even if others jump into the GOP primary.
"This is basically an open seat,'' Toomey said at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon where he was the guest speaker.
But while the 47-year-old former Congressman from the Lehigh Valley was confident that he could rally GOP support around him, Toomey said he wasn't sure that the man he chased from the Republican Party will be the Democratic candidate in the 2010 general election.
Toomey said he believes there's a good chance Sen. Arlen Specter could face stiff opposition in a Democratic primary.
"The question Pennsylvanians are going to ask is: Is Arlen Specter trustworthy? He went around the state saying he would remain in the Republican Party. He said it was important that there be a check in the Senate against an automatic Democratic majority. Then he reads one poll result and switches parties,'' Toomey said.
Toomey also said he has spoken with Texas Sen. John Cronyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Despite earlier statements by Cronyn that Toomey was too conservative to win a general election in Pennsylvania, Toomey said his talks with Cronyn are paving the way for GOP support of Toomey's candidacy in 2010.