A top Republican senator who once dismissed former Rep. Pat Toomey’s
chances of winning the Pennsylvania Senate race will host a fundraiser for
him in late November.

After Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., announced last April that he was switching
parties to run for re-election as a Democrat, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, publicly rebuffed Toomey’s chances of winning the Senate seat.

“I don’t think there is anybody in the world who believes he can get elected
senator there,” Hatch was quoted as saying on April 29.

Now Hatch is scheduled to headline a high-dollar fundraising lunch on Nov.
17 “in support of” Toomey, according to a copy of the event invitation.

“Our campaign has worked hard and succeeded in persuading a great many
people of Pat Toomey’s prospects in this race, and now every public poll
proves it,” said Toomey campaign spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik. “Pat is
very pleased to have Sen. Hatch’s support and looks forward to working with
him throughout the campaign and serving with him in the Senate.”

Specter said he was changing parties because he could not defeat Toomey in
the GOP primary.

CQ Politics currently rates the race Leans Democratic.