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THE PRESS ROOM: Kortz wants more coverage
An occasional series of articles exploring how political campaigns are playing out in the media—in print, on the air, online and behind the scenes.
State Representative Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) has long been getting the short end of the media stick during his super-underdog race for Senate. In a Democratic primary dominated by Senator Arlen Specter and Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7), Kortz has more often than not been an afterthought—in the minds of his opponents, political insiders and reporters alike.
Well, he’s sick of it.
Kortz’s campaign e-mailed reporters a release late last week headlined “Citizens Question Media Coverage of U.S. Senate Race in Pennsylvania.” Clearly, Kortz is one of those citizens, with his campaign saying that he’s “perceived as being too often ignored by the mainstream media who concentrate their reporting on only two candidates.”
But he’s not the only one. The campaign also included a letter from Allentown lawyer Richard J. Orloski to MSNBC‘s Hardball host Chris Matthews. In the letter, which his office confirmed is authentic and was copied to Kortz, Orloski tells Matthews “he’s concerned that you are misleading the public concerning the 2010 U.S. Senate Democratic Primary by billing it as a Specter vs. Sestek [race] only.”
Orloski goes on to laud Kortz’s campaign efforts and say that having a Pittsburgh-area candidate in a race against two Philadelphia-area candidates who could split the vote may very well work to his advantage.
“I am bringing this to your attention so that you will have all [the] facts to play hardball,” he wrote.
Alas, the letter appears to have gotten almost no coverage.
October 26, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Tags: Bill Kortz
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David Diano
Oct 26th, 2009
Dan-
I’ve met Kortz and he’s a very nice guy. Considering the health care debate, his fight for single-payer in PA should be getting more press.
Maybe he needs to start holding some townhalls.
Unfortunately, the pollsters aren’t even including him in their questions. If Kortz can get the petition signatures and get on the ballot, then he should be included in legitimate polls. Otherwise, the polls are effectively “advertising” the other candidates.
mike mentzer
Oct 26th, 2009
Maybe Bill and I could start our own race.. He the Democrat , me the Independent..
we can call it the Side Show..
Mark
Oct 26th, 2009
Let me straight forward up front. I am helping Bill Kortz in his quest to run for U.S. Senate.
From the time Bill started his campaign till present he is doing nothing different than the other two in this race, as a matter of fact, with his energy level I bet he has been to more places and put in more miles. So why, at this point in time does that translate into more coverage for Specter and Sestak? Seems to be that the media looks at your purse first. The oxymoron in all of this is the fact that the media is always preaching the evils of money and politic, but gives the most attention to those that raise the most of it.
Make no mistake about it; Kortz is in this race to stay, and to win. Money? We are just starting now to make an effort to raise it. That being said. We know we will never raise the monies that Specter, or Sestak will..But! The only one in this race that will raise large amounts will be Specter, but let me make a prediction. All the money Specter raises will not put that Humpty Dumpty back together again.
Keep your eye on Kortz, he has more energy and determination than Specter, Sestack and their entire families put together, including their staff’s
WESTPADEM6
Oct 26th, 2009
Kortz in intriguing. I know Joe sestak must be hoping he gets out of the race. Kortz to me is actually a better candidate as a challenger in many respects.
Brian Kline
Oct 27th, 2009
I also had the opportunity to meet Bill Kortz over the summer, and there is no quit in the guy. If he had more resources he would present problems for Sestak and Specter in Western PA. A socially conservative ex-steelworker who supports single-payer healthcare would speak to many Democrats in Western PA. He seems to fit the mold of the type of candidate Chris Matthews supports in the Democratic Party. Which leaves me surprised Matthews hasn’t examined his candidacy on “Hardball.”
WESTPADEM6
Oct 27th, 2009
Yes, if i wasnt supporting Specter (which i am) Id support Kortz. Kortz should get the same amount of attention as sestak. In fact, people i talked to out east say they actually were impressed w Kortz, and thus are supporting him as opposed to Sestak.