FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (3/03/2009)

CONTACT:    Nathan Bowers

Tel: (412) 749-5720

Email: nbowers@meakem.com

MEAKEM WILL NOT RUN FOR SENATE:

SAYS ENDORSEMENT LIKELY WITHIN WEEKS

Pittsburgh entrepreneur Glen Meakem announced today that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Arlen Specter.  Meakem, who announced in February that he would either run against Specter or support another candidate who could beat Specter in the Republican Primary and win the general election, said:

“After careful consideration, I have decided along with my wife that obligations to our young family and my business partners make it too difficult for me to run for public office at this time.”

“Since Arlen Specter’s disastrous vote on the $787 billion government expansion bill, a number of other strong conservatives have indicated a willingness to run for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania in 2010.  I remain dedicated to defeating Arlen Specter and helping to elect a smart, conservative Republican who understands how to successfully run our economy.  I am confident that I will be able to endorse a candidate in the coming weeks.”

“I have respect for Arlen Specter’s personal toughness and political skills, but he has shown himself to be just another ‘liberal progressive’ who does not understand economics.  With the future of our economy at stake, it is clear that Specter must move on.  I am confident the people of Pennsylvania will replace him in 2010.”

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Glen Meakem was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FreeMarkets, Inc., a business internet company headquartered in Pittsburgh.  He is currently Co-Founder and Managing Director of Meakem Becker Venture Capital and host of The Glen Meakem Radio Program.  Mr. Meakem is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School.  He is also a former officer in the United States Army Reserve and a veteran of the 1991 Gulf War.  See GLENMEAKEM.COM for more information.