When Chris Matthews said, "I want to do everything I can to make this thing work, this new presidency work," it was all about a potential senate run. In fact, we'll find very few anti-Obama remarks on Hardball until (and if) Matthews announces he's not going to run. The short explanation is that if Matthews wants to unseat Arlen Specter, he's going to need the White House.
And a new PPP poll shows that Matthews only needs to pick up 13 points to match Specter.
The poll -- conducted by Public Policy Polling -- showed Specter leading Matthews 40 percent to 27 percent in a hypothetical 2010 general election matchup.