The suburban Philadelphia area, Delaware, Bucks and Chester Counties, are known collectively as Pennsylvania's "ring counties" because they surround the City of Brotherly Love. Long a stronghold of moderate Republicans they've been trending Democratic in years as the GOP leaves its moderates behind. At the same time the Democratic Party has become the Party of fiscal responsibility and many of these former Republicans frown at the social issue focus of Republicans. Largely pro choice and tolerant, the recent direction of the GOP has been causing them to defect to the Democrats.
Now Montgomery County has become Blue. Long a linchpin of Republican politics there are now more registered Democrats in Montgomery County than Republicans. The other three ring counties have also been trending Blue and, with them, the state of Pennsylvania. The metropolitan region of Southeast Pennsylvania is the tail which wags the dog in this state. It's definitely a blue dog in more ways than one.
This didn't happen all by itself. The Montgomery County Democratic Party has been rejuvenated under Chair Marcel Groen and leaders like Frank Custer and Joe Hoeffel. They've sent legislators like Connie Williams and Josh Shapiro to Harrisburg and have worked long and hard to expand the Party and win elections. This is a milestone which was hard won and hard fought and those Democrats in Montgomery County who have contributed to this success, from precinct captains and volunteers to Party officials, are to be congratulated on their achievement.
As a Party we win statewide these days based on Southeast and Southwest Pennsylvania. The sheer numbers of votes cast in Philadelphia and the ring counties swing these elections and the County Committees have been working hard to achieve these gains. Good candidates teamed up with dedicated volunteers and activists are winning elections where we weren't competitive before.
This is great news. I volunteered for an Obama voter reg. event at the Springfield, PA St. Patrick's Day parade. The reception we received was mildly warm, but it has improved in the week after Sniper-gate.
Obama has had more enthusiastic support (sometimes too enthusiastic), while HRC's establishment support was larger . . . but softer.
It is starting to show in Delaware County. I really think that Obama has a shot to take 4 out of the 7 delegates up for grabs in Sestak's district.
Posted by: EJ | April 06, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Great accomplishment!! Keep it up right through November. Some other allies for the effort are listed here: http://www.acropolisreview.com/2007/07/pennsylvania.html
Posted by: MC | April 07, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Good. Good! Now, that's the spirit!
Posted by: Peter Bonny, Jr. | April 07, 2008 at 11:17 AM