The Pennsylvania Progressive

State Voter Registration May Set Record

The total number of registered voters for the April 22nd primary may set a record for Pennsylvania.  As counties continue processing voter registration forms the total number of eligible voters is just 50,000 shy of the record set for the 2004 presidential race.  This is only a primary mind you, so this is significant.  As of today the total number of voters is 8,320,000.  4.2 million of those are Democrats and Bucks County has joined Montgomery as Philadelphia ring counties which now have Democratic voter registration majorities.  The challenge now is to keep these new Democrats Democratic for the fall, at least in the voting booth.

Democrats now outnumber Republicans statewide by a million.

Update:  The Montgomery County Democratic Committee has announced their final numbers and there is now a 9,401 person Democratic majority in Montco.  That's a swing of 40,115 since last November, an impressive accomplishment.

Edwards Jumps Back Into Race

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who suspended his presidential campaign in early February, has decided to unsuspend it and continue his quest for the nomination.  According to his spokesman Barney Google "I see the two remaining candidates unable to clinch this nomination and I feel I can be a consensus compromise candidate who can both beat John McCain and unite the Party."

Rumor is that Sen. Edwards awoke this morning and looked into his mirror to see a President staring back.  He decided the visage was simply too glorious to ignore and reversed his earlier decision.  He then went to breakfast where Elizabeth reminded him it was April Fools Day and the reflection was simply playing games with him.

The Florida/Michigan Mess

The fiasco created by Florida and Michigan moving their primaries before February 5th continues to resonate as we near April.  The Clinton campaign is pushing hard for revotes or, at least, sitting the current delegates.  The Obama campaign is fighting equally hard to prevent that from happening.  Each has a vested interest in the outcome.

Hillary must have solid wins in Florida and Michigan delegates to have any chance of winning.  Knowing this her people are pushing very hard for a solution which benefits her while the Obama people are actively blocking such solutions knowing their consequences for Clinton.  I'm OK with this because this is their job:  strategize and operate the best you possibly can for your candidate.  This is their job.

The Clinton managers are arguing several points.  First they are saying these primary voters will be disenfranchised if they don't have a say in the nomination process.  They also claim these states could be lost in November if voters feel the Democratic Party disenfranchised them.  They also charge that since Obama voluntarily removed his name from the Michigan ballot he made his own problem there.

Conversely the Obama campaign is calling for solutions which they say are fair.  Behind the scenes they have worked feverishly in Michigan to halt any new vote. 

Let's recap what happened in each state.  When Michigan violated DNC rules the candidates removed their names from the ballot after being urged to do so.  All the major candidates did except Hillary.  She took a lot of flak for remaining on the ballot when the acceptable action at the time was to boycott the state for its action.  Blaming Obama now for having done the right thing then bothers me significantly.  The election there was anything but fair and those delegates should not be seated without a full redo of the election.

The problem with revoting is you must restrict it to those who turned out that day, to all Democrats, to all those who voted other than on the GOP ticket, or what?  There are a myriad of problems associated beyond the issue of financing a new election.  A coalition of wealthy Clinton supporters came forward to guarantee funding.  The Obama campaign harshly criticized this but I found no issue with the idea.  They could have come up with a similar solution but were beaten to the punch by the Rendell/Corzine group.

Florida's problem was caused by their Republican legislature and Governor, not Democrats.  They moved their primary and all the candidates agreed not to campaign there.  Hillary's people charge that Obama violated this with cable television spots.  I hadn't heard that before and I assume they're referring to national ad buys Obama took on CNN and other networks.  I don't see that as a violation.  Because Obama was first on the air with national ad spots doesn't constitute a violation of this agreement.

If Democrats in Florida are upset about being frozen out of the convention and nominating process I don't understand why they would turn their anger back at Democrats.  They should be angry at Republicans and I hope they are smart enough (2000 anyone?) by now to realize this salient fact. 

On the issue of disenfranchisement that, again, is a red herring.  Millions of Democrats are disenfranchised every four years.  This is the first election since 1976 in which Pennsylvania has influenced the process.  Where was all this anger and rage about disenfranchisement from the Clintons in 1992 and 1996?  Until we reform the primary process to insure every voter has a say in the nominating process this will always happen.

Frankly I'm getting tired of all the griping about Florida and Michigan.  They broke the rules and were penalized.  They had ample opportunity to remedy their situation and voters in Florida overwhelmingly said they do not want to revote.  Either they can do that or they can shut up and take their medicine.  Now let's discuss a real long term solution to the primary mess, one which will make it fair for everyone.

I don't blame the campaign managers because they're doing their jobs advocating for their candidates.  This is a dead issue now that both states seemingly aren't going to redo their elections.  If a challenge is made to the DNC Credentials Committee, as promised by the Clinton campaign, I'm going to be quite upset.

Endorsements

Two organizations announced their endorsements today in the presidential primary.  The Montgomery County Democracy For America group endorsed Barack Obama and Liberty PA endorsed Hillary Clinton.  Here are their statements:

Philadelphia, PA – The Liberty City Democratic     Club, a key LGBT political group in Pennsylvania,     overwhelmingly endorsed Hillary Clinton for President with two-thirds of     the members voting for her.

This     club’s endorsement further demonstrates Hillary Clinton’s     strong support in the LGBT community. The Liberty      City     endorsement follows a string of endorsements from grassroots LGBT groups     like the Steel City Democrats, the Houston Stonewall Democrats, Dallas     Stonewall Democrats, and 27 of the 39 members of Board the National     Stonewall Democrats.

 
“We     are proud to endorse Senator Hillary Clinton in this important primary     cycle,” said Matthew Woodcock, Endorsement Chair of the Liberty City     Democratic Club.  "Her record of accomplishment is proof positive     that she'll be a fighter for the LGBT community in the White House and     that's what we need.  We need her experience working for us."

 
Hillary     has been a longtime ally of the LGBT community. She fought against the     Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) both times and has worked on legislation     that would promote equality for LGBT Americans.  As President, Hillary     will work to ensure that gay and lesbian couples in committed relationships     have the same legal rights and responsibilities as all Americans. She will     also work to end discrimination in adoption laws, sign hate crimes     legislation and ENDA into law, and put an end to the failed policy of Don't     Ask, Don't Tell.

 
“I     am honored to receive the support of the Liberty Democratic Club,”     said Clinton.     “LGBT Americans have been a part of this campaign from the start and     I look forward to working with members of the Liberty Democratic Club to     ensure that their voices are heard in this important Pennsylvania     primary.  We need to end the divisive politics of the current     administration. As President, I will do just that and will continue     fighting for equality for all Americans."

 

Montgomery County Democracy for America (MontcoDFA) is pleased  and proud to announce our endorsement of Senator Barack Obama to be the 2008 Democratic nominee for election to the office of President of the United States. We will immediately begin to mobilize our membership on behalf of Senator Obama  in his effort to win the Pennsylvania Democratic primary on April 22.

Kevin Shaw, Chairman of MontcoDFA, issued the following statement:

“Senator Obama’s candidacy represents the promise of the dramatic institutional and social change that is necessary to begin to heal the divisions and defeat the cynicism that the politics and policies of the recent past have engendered and encouraged in the American people.

“Senator Obama represents not just new leadership, but a new kind of leadership, based on community, shared purpose, and shared contribution -- qualities that will be essential to re-establishing the values upon which this country was founded: Justice, Opportunity, and Liberty, among others.

“The presidency of George W. Bush has been disastrous for America’s economy, lo! ng term security, and vitality as a nation. But we view the current administration as the culmination of many years of politics that have concentrated power in the hands of the few at the expense of the vast majority of Americans. These politics have sought to divide us, and to pit one American against another in a desperate race for a slice of a pie that continues to shrink due to economic and social policies; policies that funnel more and more of our nation’s wealth to a small, select group at the top, while disenfranchising millions of American families struggling to succeed.

“MontcoDFA therefore invites all citizens of Montgomery County interested in  ending the occupation of Iraq, restoring faith in the American dream of financial security for our families, providing a world class education to all of our children, and restoring America’s leadership in the world community, to join us in our support of Senator Obama.”

Montgomery County Democracy for America is a local, independent affiliate of  Democracy for America, begun in 2004 by Governor Howard Dean to identify and support political candidates for all levels of elected office that share our values of promoting social progress, making government fiscally responsible, and inviting citizens to participate in the political process.

Anyone interested in promoting those values is welcome to contact us via the  Internet at www.dfalink.com/montcodfa or www.montcodfa.org.

                                   

Abraham's Take On the Keystone Primary

Tom Abrahams of ABC left a comment and link on an older article about robo calls and I feel it deserves a more prominent position.  It's a good slant on Pennsylvania and this primary election.  I recommend it.

The Battle For PA's Power Brokers

Senator Bob Casey Jr, Congressmen Bob Brady, Chris Carney, Tim Holden, Jack Murtha, and Mike Doyle, AFL-CIO head Bill George, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and various influential Pennsylvania Democrats are all undecided in the primary race.   They are some of the big prizes to be won before April 22nd.  Both campaigns are courting their endorsements and both candidates are fighting to get them.  Aware of their influence they are also leveraging this to convince both Obama and Clinton to support their pet causes.

Part of this illustrates the appeal of both candidates.  Most Democrats I speak with like both.  I also hear this listening to conversations everywhere I go, in restaurants, elevators, around water coolers, to people I ask on the street.  I've spoken with people at Hillary's events and some are undecided.  Some are people who can influence others, though not quite on the level as those above.  They are attending the events, like me, to help them decide.

I am an undecided voter, one of many in Pennsylvania.   There doesn't seem to be a battle to get my support though because one campaign seems to have conceded, assuming I've decided.  I have not.  You know what they say about assuming.  I'm not presuming to put myself with the list of those above, I'm simply a Democratic Committee man trying to decide who to vote for April 22nd.  I also happen to have a blog and I happen to cover campaigns, or try to.

Florida Planning Mulligan Primary

Florida is taking a mulligan.  After screwing up their first primary they are now finalizing their mulligan, or "do over" election.  It appears it will be June 3rd and a combination of in person and mail in voting.  Through all the heated rhetoric about voters being disenfranchised because they were being left out of the primary process I was reminded how Pennsylvania Republicans have been disenfranchised this year.  Every four years massive numbers of voters are shut out from the primary process.  It's time to truly reform the system and go to regional systems of some sort.

We tried moving our primary up to February 12th but it wasn't possible due to other complications.  Normally Pennsylvania and many other states are left out, or disenfranchised from the political process.  It was curious to listen to Gov. Crist bemoan theirs this year.  I was also reminded of all the voters his predecessor disenfranchised in 2000.  Where was his outrage then?

Black Clergy Endorses Obama

The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity  has endorsed Barack Obama for President.  The folks in our churches are overwhelmingly supporting Barack Obama," said the Rev. Ellis I. Washington, the group's president. "We can do no less."  The Philadelphia Council of Clergy has endorsed Hillary Clinton.   This is interesting tome because this is a change from what I saw last summer.  I live blogged an ACORN presidential event at Bright Hope Baptist Church which Sen. Obama didn't even deign to appear.  Sen. Clinton did, addressed the issues of poverty, affordable housing, predatory lenders, et al which ACORN focuses.

The largely urban, Black audience loved Hillary that day.  When she arrived they pressed to the front to get pictures and treated her as their hero.  Now they are moving to Barack Obama.  Interesting though not unexpected.

Treasurer Race Update

Along with the contest for president there are some other important primary races going on in Pennsylvania.  Several Congressional Districts have primary contests, notably the 18th for Tim Murphys's seat and the 3rd, Phil English's.  The 5th, in north central PA's 15 counties, also is contested though this is a heavily Republican area.  John Peterson, the incumbent, is retiring.  There are twelve candidates, total, running there.

The other big race is the primary for state Treasurer.  This election finds a successor to Sen. Bob Casey Jr.  Four Democrats are running and there were challenges launched against two of them contesting the validity of their petitions.  Rob McCord challenged Jennifer Mann and Dennis Morrison-Wesley attempting to get them off the ballot.  Those challenges were heard and dismissed this week.

The other candidate, John Cordisco of Bucks County, has people out at Hillary events distributing literature.  I ran into someone I knew at the Scranton event for Hillary.  Of course, I know a few people on the Cordisco campaign because he is Chair of the Bucks County Democrats, a place I've spent some time.

Please pay attention to this race because it's an important statewide row office.

Obama Sweeps to Mississippi Victory

Sen. Barack Obama continued his mastery of the south, an area with many African American Democrats, winning 59% of the vote yesterday.  His support among Blacks is strong and there are no more dissenters complaining he isn't "Black" enough.  He has won over this important Democratic demographic and young people are especially motivated by his message.

As I'm driving around Pennsylvania, eating in restaurants, staying in hotels, attending events I'm watching, listening and speaking to people discuss the race.  It's becoming the main topic everywhere.  I observed a typical Hillary supporter, a 60'ish woman, talking up her candidate and dissing Sen. Obama to another table of three young people who politely tried ignoring her constant trashing of their guy.

I spoke to a woman upstate who is an Obama supporter and one who is supporting Clinton.  Both cited strong preferences and are excited by the race.  People at Hillary's event in Scranton were a mix of committed voters and undecideds.  I saw one man enter the event with buttons on for each candidate.  Polls are showing 20% undecideds and a lot of soft support for each candidate.  It appears Pennsylvania is up for grabs.

The Obama delegate lead continues to be around 100 and we're the only primary between today and April 22nd.  I'll cover as much of this as I can, for both camps if possible.  I am not going to drive around to Obama campaign events, however, if I cannot get press credentials and entry.  I can't afford all that gas.