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Anthony Williams’ big day

LANCASTER—State Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) almost seemed to come out of nowhere.

Just two weeks after chatter about a potential gubernatorial run kicked up, and despite not even declaring his candidacy, Williams was a surprise winner at the Democratic State Committee meeting here. He had overwhelming support from within Philadelphia, and found pockets of support elsewhere—even without his name on a printed ballots. He survived to second-ballot voting, knocking off a candidate who had been in the race for months. And claiming that mountains of campaign cash were pouring in, Williams seemed to be full steam ahead.

“There’s obviously a message in what I’m saying that resonates in the Democratic Party,” Williams said after the party failed to endorse a candidate for governor on Saturday. While the vast majority of his support was seen as coming from Philadelphia party chairman Bob Brady, Williams noted that votes had popped up in other areas of the state, too. He says he’s already raised half-a-million, with another half-a-million on the way.

While cautioning that his final decision on whether or not to run won’t come until he circulates nominating petitions to get on the ballot, Williams was obviously flush with confidence. He said he’d called Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, who was knocked off the ballot in the first round, and seek his support.

“Just like he reached out to have me support him, I’m going to ask him to support me,” he said, adding that “we’ve raised more money than him.”

Hoeffel’s co-campaign manager Lauren Townsend signaled that Hoeffel would be less than receptive.

“Bob Brady is a powerful party chair and we welcome [Williams] into the race,” she said. “Joe’s in the race. This is a race that’s wide open.”

With his base in vote-rich Philadelphia, Williams said all he needed to do was raise enough money.

“I don’t have to match them dollar-for-dollar,” he said of his opponents, “but I have to get close.”

February 6, 2010 at 3:47 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Anthony Williams, Joe Hoeffel

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