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THE PRESS ROOM: Sestak’s latest PR tease, anonymous quote included, is quickly deflated

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.

Even by the standards of Joe Sestak’s recent media-teasing, what the campaign tried to pull off Wednesday showed chutzpah. Late in the afternoon, the campaign e-mailed reporters boasting of a “special announcement” in which a “former Democratic challenger” would endorse the Senate hopeful.

“One of the few Democratic candidates to successfully challenge his party will endorse Congressman Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate this Monday,” the campaign wrote.

Of course, “successfully challenge his party” could mean almost anything. But to top it all off, the Sestak folks provided what may be the first-ever anonymous quote within a press release.

“It’s probably no surprise that I am supporting a candidate who is not afraid to take on the political establishment, who has the conviction to take on a career politician who changed his political stripes for political convenience,” the unnamed endorser said in a statement.  “I respect Joe Sestak’s service to our country, first in the military and now in congress; that real world perspective will make him a powerful advocate for the people of Pennsylvania as their Democratic senator.”

Reporters stood for being jerked around a bit while Sestak made his long march to “officially” entering the primary against Senator Arlen Specter. This time, the press was quick to steal Sestak’s secret out of the bag.

Within an hour, PhillyClout had heard that the “mystery endorser” was Ned Lamont, the Connecticut businessman who beat Senator Joseph Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary. Shortly after, a headline on the post that read “Who is Sestak’s Mystery Endorser?” became “Is Ned Lamont The Mystery Endorser for Joe Sestak?”

By 7:30 p.m., campaign sources had to confirmed to The Inquirer that Lamont was indeed the mystery guest. So much for the surprise.

And as political junkies will recall, Lamont lost to Lieberman in the general election.

•Previously on The Press Room: Former Senate hopeful Matthews opts to control the conversation instead

October 14, 2009 at 9:47 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Joe Sestak, Ned Lamont, The Press Room

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