Who cares?

The Democratic party is awful and has been moving further and further to the right since the 70s.

Why argue about who is going to sell out progressives?

Besides the only people who look at this website are campaign staffers, interns, and other “insiders”. Voters don’t follow this stuff and they aren’t supposed to. We let the money pick the “serious” candidates available and then the voters get some influence.

At our last Area meeting, both candidates showed up to say a few words and spend some face time with us. But only one – Trivedi – stuck around and went out with most of us afterwards for a beer to salute our outgoing Area leader. For whatever reason, Pike was nowhere to be seen.

This was the second time that we’d met both candidates – the first was during an Area 4 fundraiser in October. Pike and Trivedi both spoke there (and to most us, Trivedi was a surprise – we weren’t even aware there WAS another candidate going for the seat). Pike got polite applause; Trivedi, who delivered his standard “son of an immigrant” stump speech, plus an impassioned support of health care reform with a public option, got an ovation.

There is no doubt that head-to-head, Trivedi is a the more compelling candidate. Every single party member I’ve spoken with, if they’ve met both candidates, says that Trivedi is far and away the better choice, has a much better personal story and relates better to audiences and individuals.

Pike’s only saving grace is his personal wealth and fact that his campaign will probably be better financed. But that’s not necessarily a plus on the grassroots level.

Despite what Dan’s article says, I will be shocked if Montgomery County Democrats endorse Pike this spring. I expect it will either be an open race with no endorsement, or we will go for Trivedi.

In the 6th, Pike’s trying to build up money and donors to overwhelm Trivedi. Trivedi’s trying to raise enough money to show he’s viable.
If a viable 3rd candidate enters, all bets are off.

In the 7th, Lentz got himself off to an early lead in endorsements and fundraising. The main objectives seem to be showing the money guys in Washington that he was a good fundraiser, and to raise a wall of money as a barrier against Vitali entering the race.
Then Gail jumped in and changed the equation a bit (from scaring off a challenger by raising money, to competing with a challenger and figuring out how much to spend for a primary).

The two biggest new “dangers” to Lentz are Vitali entering the race, and Sestak realizing that Congress is the only Federal seat he can win. Both are low probabilities.

I think the 6th and the 7th are going to be the closely watched primaries. I’m hoping the “rivalry” doesn’t cost the candidates a lot from their Primary funds, and gets the Dems to realize the party is vital by producing quality candidates.

The 6th and 7th will also be interested Hoeffel running for Governor and the SE being his base. This could be a high-turnout primary year for Dems.

In this case all these people have let the system down and are causing insider strife which will only hinder the general election candidate.