Paul M. Weyrich, Chairman of Free Congress Foundation PAC and National Chairman of Coalitions for America, Wednesday gave a ringing endorsement to Rep. Patrick Toomey, R.-Pa., who aims to unseat Specter (generally labeled "moderate to liberal") whose record during 4 terms in the Senate has leaned decidedly leftward – very much so by Republican standards.

Further, Weyrich – whose off-the-record weekly briefings attract representatives of 70 to 80 conservative groups with influence throughout the nation numbering in the tens of millions – expressed a concern that if Pennsylvania's senior senator is re-elected-he will soon become chairman of the all-important Senate Judiciary Committee.

Though Specter has backed some conservative judicial nominees (Clarence Thomas), he has joined left-wing Democrats in torpedoing others (Robert Bork).

As Congressman Toomey thanked him for his support, NewsMax.com asked Weyrich if the prospect of a Chairman Specter derailing conservative nominees is dismal enough for GOP voters to risk losing the incumbency advantage, with a freshman Democrat ultimately winning in the end if it should come to that.

He replied that the argument has "some merit" IF the GOP maintained control of the Senate. But he quickly added he would not speculate further when Congressman Toomey offers "an ideal alternative."

"People get unduly pessimistic," he added. "If they feel that way, they should get behind Pat Toomey."

Weyrich also revealed that Senator Specter had tried to talk him out of backing his GOP rival.

He quoted the senator as saying, "It's true I'm not with you all the time. But when I am with you, I have a far greater impact than an ordinary conservative senator."

The FCF leader said he had bought the argument of Specter as worthy of endorsement (albeit with minimal enthusiasm) in past campaigns.

Weyrich recalled that in 1992 when Specter was under fire from radical feminist groups for backing Justice Thomas, he held a meeting with the senator and 17 conservative leaders from Pennsylvania.

Weyrich says at that meeting, "I pointed to Specter, and I said, 'This man is an SOB, and under ordinary circumstances, I would never support him. But in this particular case, he's our SOB," because if he loses, "no Republican senator is going to be willing to challenge" the feminist left. That year, the senator was narrowly re-elected.

When contacted for comment by NewsMax, a spokesman for the Specter campaign said the senator would gladly "go head to head" with Toomey on endorsements." He noted President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Pennsylvania's conservative junior senator-Rick Santorum – and 29 state senators back Specter.

Weyrich recalled that in 1980 when Al D'Amato challenged 4-term Sen. Jacob Javits, R-N.Y., all of Javits's colleagues (except Jesse Helms, R-N.C.) rallied to the senior senator. D'Amato won.

President Bush's policy normally is to back the incumbent Republican in a primary, though there was some ambivalence last year when Congressman (now Senator) John Sununu R-N.H., successfully challenged then Sen. Robert Smith, R-N.H.

Aside from Javits/D'Amato and Smith/Sununu, there are only 4 other post-World War 2 instances of GOP U.S. senators being ousted by another Republican: Robert LaFollette, Jr. Wisc., defeated by Joe McCarthy (1946); Owen Brewster, Maine, defeated by Frederick Payne (1948); Maurice Murphy, N.H., defeated by Perkins Bass (1962); Clifford Case, N.J., defeated by Jeff Bell (1980). Bass and Bell lost in the general. The others won.