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Watkins decries southeast straw poll process
Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Joe Watkins on Friday voiced dismay over the process by which southeast Republican leaders endorsed a candidate for the race, calling it dangerously undemocratic, especially in the wake of a Massachusetts special election that revealed a deep-seated, anti-establishment feeling among voters.
Watkins, in an interview and in a letter he said had been sent to GOP state committee members and county party chairs, was responding to the southeast caucus’ endorsement of Bucks County Commissioner Jim Cawley earlier this month. Unlike other regional Republican straw votes—which bring together candidates for a large swath of state committee members—the Philadelphia-area caucus has for years endorsed in a meeting that involves only the leaders of the five county chairs. The results of those meetings are typically closely echoed in the more official state committee endorsement votes. That recent meeting yielded an endorsement of Cawley that the caucus said was on a “solid majority” vote, though it was not more specific, a situation that led Chester County Commissioner Carol Aichele, another candidate, to voice her dismay earlier this week at leaks that followed the endorsement.
In his letter, Watkins, a favorite of grassroots conservatives who are voicing displeasure at the prospect of having Cawley on the party’s gubernatorial ticket, cited an earlier pa2010.com report in decrying the latest endorsement process.’
“In the last week, some of my supporters in the Southeast counties have called to re-affirm their support,” Watkins wrote. “Some said that they were never canvassed. Others said that they were called but when they said that they supported me—were told they could only choose between Cawley and Aichele.
“Two days ago the voters of Massachusetts sent a message not only to the Democrat[ic] Party but to anyone seeking public office,” Watkins added. “The voters—whether Republican or Democrat or importantly Independent—want an end to business as usual. They want government officials who will listen to their concerns and views whether it’s about run away spending or the choice of a party’s nominee. Lest we forget, just last November in a special election, our party lost a solidly Republican seat in upstate New York because a few party leaders decided—they alone knew best who should be the candidate.”
Watkins, who along with Cawley and Aichele is seen as one of the leading Lt. Gov. contenders, said following a process more respectful of rank-and-file opinions was critical to winning the Governor’s Mansion in November.
“We must have the very best ticket with the broadest appeal to disgruntled Democrats, independents and enthusiastic Republicans,” he wrote. “We can only have that ‘grass roots’ enthusiasm when those workers who do the hard work needed for victory have had their say and are treated fairly.”
Michael Meehan, the Philadelphia Republican leader who chairs the southeast caucus, did not immediately return a message left at his office.
In a brief interview, Watkins said he would have appreciated the opportunity to address southeast Republicans before a vote was made, and that he sent the letter to GOP leaders to voice that sentiment.
“I wanted people to know that I believe in the American process, and I think it’s a great one when people have a chance to decide,” he said. “Certainly what happened in Massachusetts this past week sends a strong message that the people will ultimately decide who they want to lead them.”
Click here to see Watkins’ letter.
CLARIFICATION: This article originally characterized incorrectly the sentiment expressed by Carol Aichele in regards to the southeast caucus’ endorsement. In an e-mail to supporters, Aichele voiced dismay at leaks that had followed the endorsement; she did not criticize the endorsement process itself.
January 22, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Tags: Carol Aichele, Jim Cawley, Joe Watkins, Lt. Gov.
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David Diano
Jan 22nd, 2010
Watkins-
The GOP leaders aren’t interested in fairness.
The Dem leaders are falling over themselves panicking over the Mass results to think clearly too.
I recommend that you and the other candidates team-up and form an alliance (like Survivor) to take down the leaders.
Anonymous
Jan 22nd, 2010
It’s about time Watkins!!! The Southeast don’t seem to know who you are or seem to respect you, people outside the area hear it more than they care to.
A whole lot of us do respect you for making the effort and hope you’ll go ahead and get the job done. Corbett, you watching this…this characters got fight….you gonna need it against the Dems.
Watkins has done darned good work getting our attention….No disrespect to Aichele or Cawley, it’s just that Watkins gets people fired up.
I hope he’ll keep shaking it up….looks like those folks in Philly wouldn’t know talent if it walked up and bit ‘em on the a**!!
Grassroot Conservative
Jan 23rd, 2010
“Watkins, a favorite of grassroots conservatives.” What grassroots conservatives are you talking to you? I keep hearing that Watkins is favored by those grassroots conservatives but that is just not the case! Watkins is a great guy and would certainly help Corbett’s ticket but it will not help Corbett with the grassroots or Tea Party crowd at all.
If Corbett or the GOP want a real grassroots kind of guy they should be looking to Steve Johnson. Sure, Steve may not be your “typical politician” and his Sunday morning speach isn’t nearly as polished but he is probably the one statewide candidate who can really get a room fired up.
I have seen Watkins and Johnson work the same room a couple times now. Everyone likes Watkins, what isn’t there to like? It is Johnson though that gets people on their feet and ready to go to battle!
I think Watkins will end up being the Lt. Gov. but not because he’s the guy the grassroots wants, it’s because he is from the SE and is a great political operative. Watkins will do a great job on the campaign trail but he will not connect with the grassroots the way Johnson does.
Johnson is NOT a politician, he is not a political operative, he is a regular guy. I am convinced that if the party stays out of the primary at all levels Steve Johnson would be the clear choice of the Republican base. Do I think he’ll be the candidate? No, but lets stop pretending that somehow Watkins is the grassroots conservative pick.
On another note… I find it odd that Watkins is fighting against the idea of endorsements. He came to my county (about an hour and a half late) and BEGGED for the state party endorsement right after Johnson made clear that he knew he wasn’t getting the endorsement from state committee and that he was going to run anyway. Watkins should not be upset about the process, he played right along with it until it stopped working in his favor. Lets have a primary and let the Republican voters pick!
I’d be happy with Johnson or Watkins but lets keep it honest.
Anonymous
Jan 23rd, 2010
To Grassroots Conservative:
Saying that Watkins is not honest is like saying the Pope is not Catholic, that Ronald Reagan was a Liberal, just dizzy…but I digress.
Steve Johnson is strong, smart man. And his team is just as adept at getting his message out as he is. He will be formidable in the primary. And although watching him on the stump gets you fired up, it doesn’t give you the sense that he’s ready to govern. Which, in this cycle, is monumentally important.
That sentiment was probably best shown in the Central Caucus Primary…Steve’s home base, where he came in with only 9 votes. Watkins came in 3rd with 17 votes. Joe’s background clearly suggests he’s ready to govern if people took the time to know it. He’s not just a “Political Operative”. More dimensions than meets the eye.
The SEPA Caucus debacle was border line fraudulent, and Steve Johnson, DiFrancesco, Bieler and others were equally boxed out. NOBODY WON. Watkins and Aichele simply called the Caucus out on it. Rightly so. If Johnson were looking for the endorsement, he would have done the same.
Steve should be held in high regard by this party as he will speak truth to power by virtue of his grit, moxey and real knowledge of the issues.
People have actually heard Steve say he likes Watkins, and I’ve seen Watkins and Johnson cordially engage each other. No enemies there. The Grassroots and the Establishment are lucky to have people like these with the intestinal fortitude to run and serve.
Trunk Man 19149
Jan 23rd, 2010
Watkins is dismayed! That is a shame. Hey Joe, the party establishment is dismayed that it hasn’t heard from you in 15 years. Where have you been? Watkins is not a help at all to the ticket. He brings no base and does not have the Tea Party or rank and file Republican support that Cawley has. Bucks County is going to be a battle ground during this election. State Committee needs to committ itself to winning. If they do Cawley will be the LG candidate. Aichele is a nice lady but can not win a special election or a straw poll. She has no traction and should get out of the race. Watkins is a political comet. He only comes around every fifteen years or when a national convention comes to the state. He does make a nice youtube video. No other candidates truly matter since most of state committee wants a SEPA LG candidate.
Joe Rules!
Jan 23rd, 2010
Didn’t Cawley lose an election for the state legislature? Didn’t Cawley vote to raise taxes? Watkins will kick his butt in the Primary.
Meet the Facts...
Jan 23rd, 2010
Trunk Man has been under a rock…Watkins has been around for years!! Maybe you didn’t invite him to your events or activities….may not have been good enough for you….
Other people, however, have over those 15 years, some have been postively affected by his and his families efforts and are apparently prepped to move him forward. Trunk Man are you talking about this YouTube video BTW??….This guy Watkins is for real:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDe6_H8cpVo
We Know His Record!
Jan 23rd, 2010
Jim Cawley is overrated. Our Bucks County property tax rate is THE HIGHEST in the burbs. That is why he and the local GOP almost lost control of the commissioner office a couple of years ago. Cawley is a WEAK candidate.
Joe Watkins is a STRONG candidate!! No high taxes from him!
Trunk Man 19149
Jan 24th, 2010
How the hell do you know if Watkins is going to raise taxes or not. He has no record. He is a perennial candidate.
Meet the Facts...
Jan 24th, 2010
The machine is nervous…..
Rizzo to the Rescue
Jan 25th, 2010
The Machine has WON!!! If Rizzo runs all is well. He is the establishment!
Anonymous
Jan 25th, 2010
That was a truly fantastic statement. The machine has WON!!! All is well with a Rizzo run…any Philadelphian or State political junkie who follows this closely is laughing hysterically right now….
Lauren
Jan 27th, 2010
Cawley has not raised taxes in 4 years in Bucks. See him as the Master of Ceremonies at a Tea Party in Philadelphia on Independece Day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5YBL3NX1lw
Hello....
Jan 28th, 2010
To Lauren,
Cawley is 1st rate, no one is arguing with that. Strong emerging leader. Can’t debate it.
We are just more interested in this fellow here:
http://www.plumtv.com/videos/joe-watkins-msnbc-analyst/index.html
Building a Better U.S.A.
Jan 28th, 2010
Steve Johnson will get my vote for Lt. Governor. He is knowledgeable of the issues, he is experienced dealing with budgets and building a business, he is experienced with the military, he is a lifelong Pennsylvanian, he attended PA schools and PA Universities, was President of the entire PennState student body, he is not a career politician (which is what we need more of right now in our government systems), he has the ability to fire people up and lead them toward a common goal and quite simply, he embodies everything I want in my elected official.
Anonymous
Jan 30th, 2010
Steve Johnson is a man that this party, any party would be happy to see serve, but not at this critical juncture of the Commonwealths history.
There has to be an LG who is ready to govern, lead, serve and inspire at a moments notice. It has been that consequential the last 17 years. There are two that fit that bill, Cawley and Watkins.
Independent
Feb 3rd, 2010
I’ve seen Steve Johnson at several tea party invitationals and I do not agree with Anonymous.
There is no better time than at this critical juncture of the Commonwealth’s history to vote for a candidate like STEVE JOHNSON. He represents the people better than any of the other candidates, is qualified to hold office and will help to alleviate the people’s concerns about corrupt career politicians. We need people like Steve in office to keep an eye on things and keep others honest. Mr. Johnson has EARNED my vote.