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LEFTOVERS: Endorsements galore, Dem snow problems & Meehan gets plaudits

Thursday as another day full of endorsements.

First, Democratic congressional candidate Manan Trivedi fired the latest salvo in the 6th District endorsement race, with his campaign saying he was the first in the race to reach 100 endorsements. The newest additions included a host of local party committee members from Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties. A full list is now on Trivedi’s Web site.

“The more I meet and talk to the people of the 6th district about my comprehensive plan to create jobs or how we can get real health care reform, the more people we get to join our team,” Trivedi said in a statement. “And it is because so many people are powering this campaign, that not only will we win in May, but in November as well. From the congressman to the committee person, from organized labor to the zone leader, no one has built a broader or larger infrastructure of support in this race. It is clear that as the need for real change continues to grow, so too does the support for our campaign.”

Then, Auditor General Jack Wagner announced yet another Democratic county chair who’s backing his gubernatorial campaign. The latest was Butler County leader Larry Kriess, who made an electability argument.

“Jack is the best Democratic candidate to beat Attorney General [Tom] Corbett in the November general election,” Kriess said. “Pennsylvania is facing serious economic challenges. Auditor General Wagner has experience finding and cutting waste, making him the best candidate to face those problems.”

Wagner’s opponent, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, was backed by the statewide Teamsters union.

“Dan Onorato is the only candidate for Governor who knows what it takes to help lead and manage a large economy—because he has done it,” state Teamsters president Bill Hamilton said. “We have seen Dan’s work as Allegheny County Executive and his commitment over his career to helping create good jobs and family sustaining wages. He’s stood up for workers and we are proud to stand up for him.”

And Senator Arlen Specter capped off the day with a high-profile endorsement from Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

“The Senator’s prodigious work ethic is well known here and throughout the state,” Ravenstahl wrote in a letter, “and whenever I have asked for his help he has come through for us.”

Meanwhile, Colby Itkowitz at The Morning Call wisely points out that Democrats could have a problem looming in the snow storm that’s supposed to hit the northeast this weekend. The reason? State committee members are supposed to meet in Lancaster for their endorsement meeting, and snowy roads could mean no two-thirds quorum of members required. A state party spokesman says Democrats have “every expectation that we will have a quorum.” Fine for them, but pa2010.com Central is supposed to be in town, and what if we get stuck in Lancaster?

Lastly, it’s been a good week for former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan in the national political press. Politico said the GOP 7th District hopeful “is is looking like the star recruit of this cycle.” CQ Politics took note of his fundraising numbers. And Time put him on its list of “10 More Scott Browns.”

That’s it for now political junkies. Unless the roads are closed, we’ll see you this weekend in Lancaster.

February 4, 2010 at 8:56 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

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