U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who faces perhaps his toughest re-election fight in 2010, will speak in Lancaster County on Monday. The veteran Republican lawmaker will appear at a morning breakfast being held by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Willow Valley Resort.  Specter, who will appear with U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, is scheduled to talk about the $787 billion economic stimulus bill — support for which the senator has taken much criticism from conservative Republicans. Pitts opposed the stimulus.

Specter will also talk about transportation funding, healthcare reform and energy issues at the chamber’s Wake Up to the Issues Forum, which is sponsored by PPL Corp. The senator’s matchup against former Congressman Pat Toomey in the 2010 GOP primary is expected to be one of the most closely watched races in the country. The Monday breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and requires registration with the chamber. The business group will also award Pitts, a Republican who represents Lancaster County, with its “Spirit of Enterprise Award.”