Sestak, Toomey to drink beer together

Two candidates for Arlen Specter's (D) Senate seat will hold their own private beer summit tonight.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) will quench their thirst at Brew Works in Allentown, Pa. with one conspicious absence: the incumbent, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.).

The happy hour will follow a joint healthcare town hall the two candidates are holding at Muhlenberg College. (Specter's not invited to that either, though Toomey has challenged him to a separate town hall.)

The night of bipartisan discussion and imbibing is a clever political stunt. Both Toomey and Specter get to raise their profile in the race while still appearing bipartisan and conciliatory.

The town hall was Sestak's idea. After a "candid" exchange with Toomey on healthcare a few weeks back, the Pennsylvania Democrat offered Toomey the chance to debate the issue in his hometown.

"I want to show you the light on the public healthcare option! What do you say?" Sestak taunted.

Toomey, likely seeing the political benefit of the event, eagerly agreed. Not to be outdone, he asked Sestak out for a beer afterward at one of Allentown's "fine local establishments."