Pat Toomey sidesteps questions about Sarah Palin endorsement of him

BLUE BELL, Pa. — Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey sidestepped questions about his endorsement from Sarah Palin.  

Asked after a campaign event whether he thought the former governor's endorsement helped his Senate campaign against Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), Toomey was noncommittal.

"I'm delighted to have endorsements from Rudy Giuliani, Tom Ridge, the [former] Democratic mayor of Harrisburg, Stephen Reed," Toomey said. "Anyone who wants to support my campaign and endorse my candidacy, I'm grateful for."

Palin endorsed Toomey via Facebook earlier this week, an endorsement Sestak immediately began using to paint Toomey as "extreme" and out of step with Pennsylvania voters.

In a debate with Sestak on Wednesday, Toomey punted on the question of whether Palin was qualified to be president, noting that he has support from leaders "across the political spectrum."

Asked again on Friday whether Palin was qualified to serve in the nation's highest office, Toomey said, "I don't decide who's qualified for office — the voters decide.

"If she gets elected to office, that means she's qualified, and that's the case with anyone else running for office," he added.

Sestak has tried to use both Palin and Delaware's Republican Senate nominee, Christine O'Donnell, against Toomey, a tactic the Republican called "desperate."

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