And it's safe to say that Specter is pouring a little more fuel on the fire.
"This attack ad by Sen. Arlen Specter is an outrage and an affront to all veterans," said Navy veteran Bill Lewis.
A small band of military veterans gathered outside Specter's officer in Center City, denouncing him and his TV ads criticizing the 31-year military career of Rep. Joe Sestak, the former Navy admiral who is battling Specter for the democratic nomination. Similar demonstrations were planned for other Specter offices around Pennsylvania.
With the May primary drawing closer, Specter is taking the gloves off and going negative, even though most polls have been showing him with a consistent double-digit lead.
"When my opponent comes up and talks about his military record, I think the voters should know why he was relieved of his command," said Sen. Arlen Specter. "I think it goes to character, it goes to competency and he raised the issue, I didn't. So let's have the whole truth."
"Arlen Specter is going to be negative. He has no choice, he's a Republican who voted with George Bush and he can't run on his record," Rep. Sestak said.
Why is Specter going negative, and potentially alienating veterans' groups? Sestak says it's because Specter hears footsteps.
"He's desperate now. We do surveys and you can see the undecideds moving rapidly towards us," said Rep. Sestak.
Sestak and Specter will be savaging each other non-stop for the next three weeks and millions of dollars will be spent on TV ads.
At the national level, what the Democratic power brokers really want is the stronger candidate to emerge, one who can hold the seat by beating back Republican Pat Toomey in the fall.
