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Home-Stretch to the Primary Election
Posted 05-14-2002
We are in the home-stretch of the election that almost didn't happen.
At least we know that after May 21st, we will have a nominee for Governor
and candidates for Congress, even if the district boundaries are
unconstitutional. In what has been a wacky election year, who knows what the
primary election results will show?
I think the race for Governor
is extremely close. I certainly don't believe polls showing Ed Rendell with
a 10% lead. While the Rendell campaign has picked up some steam, I don't
think all the factors that will affect the results have come into play yet.
Sportsmen, who tend to vote as a block, haven't been heard from yet. I think
they will aid Bob Casey's campaign. We will also see how much union
leadership can keep their rank and file members in the fold. Almost across
the board, unions have endorsed Bob Casey. If the leadership really can
bring along the votes of their members, it will aid the Casey campaign
greatly.
If the turnout is really
large in Philadelphia and the southeastern counties, it will be a big boost
to Ed Rendell's campaign. If it isn't big there, but big in the southwest, I
think Bob Casey benefits. Turnout is always important, but in a race that
may be extremely close, it could be the deciding factor.
The other hot race here in
southwestern Pennsylvania is the Democratic primary for the 12th
Congressional District. Unfortunately, Frank Mascara chose to run against
Jack Murtha instead of running in the newly configured 18th District. That
decision has been very divisive for Democrats in the region and ensures us
of having one less Democrat representing us in Washington.
Frank brought in Billy Horton
from Texas to run his campaign, and, unfortunately for Frank, Mr. Horton has
run a campaign heavy in old news. Issues that made for a heated race between
Jack Murtha and challenger Ken Burkley twelve years ago haven't stirred much
emotion in 2002. What Mr. Horton miscalculated was that when he ran the
campaign of a challenger with no record, he could get away with attacking
Jack Murtha's past. However, with a political record as long as Frank
Mascara's, there is going to be room for criticism there too. Jack Murtha's
campaign has effectively pointed out much of Frank Mascara's baggage, and I
haven't seen any groundswell of support for Mr. Mascara outside of the areas
he was strong in already.
It is quite unfortunate that,
in both of these high profile races, we couldn't avoid Democrats carving up
other Democrats and also spending a lot of money in the process. Give the
Republicans credit, they got Barbara Hafer out of the race for Governor, so
Mike Fisher could save his money and not get battle scars in the primary.
They have much better leadership at the state level and consistently avoid
expensive primary battles.
We couldn't get Mascara to
run in the district where he now resides. Instead, he ran away from
Republican State Senator Tim Murphy who will likely be the new congressman
in the 18th District. Taking nothing away from the Democrats running for the
nomination in that district, Mascara still represented our best chance of
holding on to that seat.
Heck, we couldn't even keep
Catherine Baker Knoll from gumming up the Lieutenant Governor's race. If our
party had any leadership at the state level someone would have gotten her
out. If she wins, she will be a real burden for either candidate. I don't
care if she is as clean as a whistle on the Security and Exchange Commission
investigation of her office when she was state treasurer, the Republicans
will make her a big issue in the fall campaign. That is why I sure hope that
people elect the person who has worked the hardest for the position. That is
State Senator Allen Kukovich. He would be a plus for either candidate in the
fall and would not drag the ticket down.
So, here we are in the final
days of another heated Democratic primary. Regardless of the outcome,
winners better mend fences quickly because the real race is in the fall. We
cannot afford any Democratic constituencies sitting it out in the general
election. Too often hard feelings persist, and we don't get the votes out in
November. There is so much at stake, especially in the Governor's race, that
we must come together and make sure the Democratic nominee is the winner in
November. |
