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The top-5 Democratic endorsements

A day after pa2010.com offered up the top-5 Republican endorsements, we humbly present our take on the top-5 Democratic endorsements.

Remember the caveats: Each of these endorsers could offer candidates something a little different, be it money, political organization or credibility with a certain group of voters.

Don’t agree with our order? Think we missed one? Make your voice heard by posting a comment.

5. Bob Casey

The state’s first-term U.S. Senator holds considerable sway among conservative Democrats. And his relationship with President Obama—Casey backed him when most of the state’s political establishment was still behind Hillary Clinton—means he has the ear of higher-ups in Washington.

4. David Cohen

Ed Rendell’s former chief of staff when the Guv was Mayor of Philadelphia, Cohen is arguably the most powerful political insider in Philly. A Comcast executive, incoming chief trustee at the University of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce… the list goes on. He has relationships deep within the legal community in the region, and can milk them for money for his favored candidates. Anyone looking to win the huge amount of Democratic votes in southeastern Pennsylvania should have Cohen on their side.

3. AFL-CIO

The umbrella labor group, led by Bill George in Pennsylvania, can make or break candidates in a Democratic primary. George is received like a rock star at Democratic Party events for just this reason.

2. Ed Rendell

Sure, his approval ratings are falling and he’s a lame-duck, but the two-term governor is still a darling of Democratic primary voters, especially in his southeast Pennsylvania base. A tireless campaigner, he’s pledged to stay neutral in the party’s primary to replace him as governor, but any candidate getting his endorsement would surely enjoy a nice boost. The real test of his political power among Democratic voters: Can he push Arlen Specter past next year’s primary?

And the No. 1 Democratic endorsement in Pennsylvania is… Barack Obama

He’s the President, and in a state he won by 10 points last November, he remains popular among voters of both parties, even if approval of his policies is slipping. If he makes an endorsement in a Democratic primary race, watch out.

July 24, 2009 at 9:15 am

--pa2010.com Staff

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