Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pennsylvania) is facing an unexpectedly tough primary challenge in his newly adopted party's primary this year. Competing with him for the right to face presumptive Republican nominee Pat Toomey in November is US Representative Joe Sestak (D-Pennsylvania), a former three-star Navy admiral who had a stellar 31 year military career before entering politics. So what is Senator Specter's latest campaign strategy against his fellow Democrat? Attack his military record.

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In the latest ad from the Specter campaign, there is a claim that Admiral Sestak was "relieved of duty in the Navy for creating a poor command climate." (view the video) But the truth is much less damaging and will probably make Candidate Sestak more attractive to voters:

Toward the end of his Navy career, while serving as a top aide to Admiral Vernon E. Clark, the chief of naval operations, Mr. Sestak was assigned to assess the Navy's fleet, and he proposed steep cutbacks. When Admiral Clark retired in 2005, his successor, Admiral Mike Mullen, relieved Mr. Sestak of that duty. (source) The "relieved of his duties because of poor command climate” comes from an anonymous source in an article in the Navy Times. The full quote in context is, "A source within the Navy Department said there were no allegations of misconduct on the part of Sestak. Rather, he said, the move is being made because of poor command climate." (source)

So a three star Admiral with 31 years of experience is tasked with assessing the fleet and recommends cutting government spending. He is then relieved of his duties by a new boss. In these times of record government spending and deficits by an administration Senator Specter supports at every opportunity, he has made a colossal blunder not only attacking a true patriot's military service but also shining a light on Admiral Sestak's attempts to cut government spending.

While Mr. Specter has a double digit lead over Mr. Sestak in most polls, there is still a huge pool of undecided voters who will most likely decide the May 18 primary. According to Franklin & Marshall College pollster Terry Madonna, undecideds comprise as much as 25% of the electorate and most of them aren't going to vote for Mr. Specter. According to Mr. Madonna, "They know him too well." (source) And now anyone who hears the truth about Admiral Sestak's military record and views this Specter ad will know the real Arlen Specter too.