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Democrat Joe Sestak left Philadelphia in early March on a trek across Pennsylvania after announcing his desire for a rematch against Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey.

When he reached the Ohio state line four weeks and 422 miles later, Sestak still was the only challenger in a race national experts believe the right Democrat could win, putting the party a vital step closer to regaining control of the Senate.

Few see Sestak as the right candidate, even though the retired Navy admiral came within 2 percentage points of defeating Toomey in 2010.

And that's just one of the ironies in a 2016 Senate race that already is getting national attention.

Among the others:

Though state party leaders are less than enthused about Sestak, whom they view as uncooperative and lacking a strong message, they have yet to rally behind an alternative.

National electoral trends favor state Democrats in a presidential election year, yet up-and-comers within the party remain on the sidelines.

And legal troubles faced by marquee Democrats Kathleen Kane and Rob McCord may put alternative political jobs into play.

State and national Democrats are convinced they can defeat Toomey next year, yet other potential candidates including Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, former U.S. Rep. Chris Carney of northeastern Pennsylvania, and Montgomery County commissioner Josh Shapiro so far have been noncommittal.

"People are dipping their toes in," Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn said in a recent interview. "They're just being quiet about it."

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As Mayor Ed Pawlowski ponders a U.S. Senate campaign, slim challenger field awaits Pat Toomey