Very good announcement. There was a lot of energy in the room. Also, a very diverse crowd–Bryan’s family, miltary, local mayors and councilpersons, Harrisburg elected officials, union members, Delco Dems, college students,center city suits, veterans, white, black, asian, hispanic and indian.

Bryan appeals to a wide range of people. People who know him, believe in him.

This campaign will have a lot of energy and money and will be very tough to beat.

I am looking forward to a respectful, forward looking campaign focused on the issues. I have confidence Bryan will do just that.

Lentz will be much better received by the Party than Sestak. Sestak is kind of an outsider in a big sense. Particularly after he fundraised about 3 million under the guise of it being for the district and then leaving the district abruptly for his own personal political gain.

Colleen-
After we saw Sestak’s votes on the Iraq war and Cheney, some of us would have backed Lentz if he challenged Sestak in the 2008 primary.

David-
Here’s to hoping that he will earn your support this time!

Colleen-
I’m happy to support and help Bryan.

I’m holding off making an actual endorsement out of courtesy to my own St. Leg, Greg Vitali. If Greg gets in, I’d be a little torn, because he would be a great congressman as well.

My local committee would unquestionably support Greg. This is more understandable than their unquestioning their religious (and misguided) devotion to Sestak.

I’d have to see where they differ on the issues, campaign strength, etc.

However, I’d be happy to offer my help to either campaign getting it’s message out.

Thanks.
I greatly respect the accomplishments and policies of Rep. Vitali, and wonder about his plans as well. Whatever the outcome, I hope all the candidates and their supporters come together after the primary.

Vitali is an empty suit. Lentz is the real deal. We can’t lose this seat and if Vitali jumps in, it hurts us in the general when we will need all the pary unity we can get (and then some, since Cliff and Tony are like the Bert & Ernie of DelCo politics). Please, God, let the democratic party band together and not play its usual game of “do what’s best for myself.” Support Lentz! Save the Seventh!

Yes save the seventh, since sestak took the treasure chest and ran… No Sesame Street character, should endorse that. As an outsider, it comes off as selfish to me.

PA Feminist-
It’s been the anti-Cliff/Tony crowd that has mastered the game of “do what’s best for myself.” One need look no further than the 2007 campaign of David Landau, where his campaign was telling Delco Dems not to give money or hand out literature for his running mates.

If Bryan is smart, he’ll keep elements like that at arm’s length (or further). It will be tough, since they are more concentrated in his area of the county. However, Bryan is well liked and respected, and can build on that by rejecting divisiveness and showing leadership.

Sometimes Greg can be as exciting as watching paint dry, but he’s no empty suit. He’s got a ton of experience in the Legislature, has won in Republican territory, and has a strong record on key issues like the environment.
The biggest advantages in Bryan’s favor are that he’s got a good start on fundraising/campaign-staffing and seems much hungrier for the job.

WestPADem-
It would be nice if Sestak gave back the $3-million he tricked out of the donors to the 7th.

Dvaid,
You can safely get behind Lentz, Vitali has no intention of running for Congress.

Thomas-
While that is certainly where the safe money is to bet, Vitali has yet to announce either way. Since, we’re all in Holiday-mode until after New Year’s, there isn’t any rush to endorse.

Besides, this gives Bryan extra motivation/practice for courting Dems.

David Diano—

Yes it would be nice if he gave it back to PA-7 to use. I feel sorry, someone said that Sestak tries to bully/ intimidate people that goe against him. Is this true? These folks need someone to speak slowly to them so they understand. It goes a little somthing lika thisa… You are depleting resources from our western and central races and other battleground Democratic candidates from around the state. If someone doesn’t think there’s a price to be paid for that… well if i was a candidate and u came around, id pat u on the back and say thanks for screwing me, dont bother coming back to our district.

that being said… Lentz looks like an upgrade, good the 7th will have a full time congressman as opposed to a temp.

David Diano wrote:

“Since, we’re all in Holiday-mode until after New Year’s, there isn’t any rush to endorse.”

David, this is exactly what you and the dwindling “pro-Cliff crowd” don’t get. Breaking a 140 year old political machine and reinventing the politics of Delaware County to represent all of the residents is a 24 hour a day, 365 day a year business.

Mario Cimino
D – Morton Borough Council

Mario-
I’m involved and providing my voter stuff 24/7/365.

However, as far as ENDORSEMENTS go, I don’t agree there should be a rush. Not all the candidates have declared and I haven’t had the opportunity to hear all of them make their case or discuss their overall campaign strategy.

Also, Bryan should take the emergence of other candidates as an opportunity to make sure that he isn’t neglecting to address some area of concern. The supporters of these candidates are people that Bryan is going to have to win over if he wants a strong/united party backing him.
Bryan and Greg are certainly qualified for the job. Gail (so far) sounds like she has some relevant experience to offer as well.
As long as it’s not divisive or expensive, I’d like to give the other campaigns a chance to make their case. Once they get their organizations going, they might well decide to run for St. Leg or St. Senate or a leadership role in the County Party.

Pushing Democratic ideas, voter registration and committee building are certainly valid activities 365 days a year. However, the primary is in May, and petition signing doesn’t even start until February with the county convention.

I haven’t talked to Bryan or Greg about it, but I’m very interested to learn what efforts they plan to make sure their St. Leg seats stay in Democratic hands.
If we win the congressional seat, but lose control of the PA St. Leg, then the Republicans will get to redraw the district lines after the 2010 census. That will costs us seats in congress in the long term.
If we keep the PA St. Leg, and lose the 7th seat, there is a chance the a FAIR redrawing by a Dem legislature will make the seat easier to win/keep in the future as well as improve our overall congressional standing.
While the race to replace Sestak is the “Big Dog”, the campaigns need a strategy that will help preserve our Dem majority at the State level.

BTW, there are 14 St. Leg districts in the 7th congressional district. 7 of them are in Dem hands, and only three of those are in Delco (Bryan, Greg and Thaddeus).

I would hope that ANY Dem congressional candidate would attempt to increase us beyond 7 (or at least maintain the status quo) particularly of one of the 7 gives up his seat to run for higher office.

[...] Bryan Lentz (D), running in the 7th, formally announces. [...]