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LEFTOVERS: More PA-12 hopefuls, blog targets Onorato, Q-poll numbers
The candidates keep coming in the 12th Congressional District.
One of the latest is attorney Ron Mackell Jr., a Texas attorney who used to live in Johnstown. The Tribune-Democrat reports that he’ll seek the Democratic nomination in the May primary, but he won’t vie for the party’s nod to run in the special election. The newspaper also reports that Bill Choby, a Johnstown resident who tried to unseat the late John Murtha three times, will seek the GOP nod for the special election to serve out Murtha’s term, but won’t run in the primary.
Mackell and Choby appear to be the first candidates who are explicitly limiting their interest to one of the two simultaneous May 18 elections. Choby said he’ll only run for the special election so as to “minimize ballot confusion and give the voters a clear and simple choice.” But it’s likely that leaders in both parties will want their special election candidate and their primary nominee to be the same person.
The landscape on this will look more clear in about a week-and-a-half, when both parties will have chosen their special election candidates.
Meanwhile, add one more blog to the list of Web sites proliferating with the purpose of bashing specific candidates. The newest is Dan’s Land of Make Believe, and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato is the target. No indication yet on who’s behind this one. But whoever the author is e-mailed reporters Tuesday, making clear that the site isn’t authorized by any candidate and saying that “the purpose of this blog is to expose Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato’s flip-flops, distortions and overall sketchy record.”
“The track record he is touting across the state as a candidate for governor is truly make-believe,” the author wrote. “It would truly be a huge mistake to elect Dan Onorato the next Governor of Pennsylvania. For the record, I do not have a horse in this race at all. I am just doing my duty to provide my fellow citizens and voters with the truth.”
We’ll keep looking into who this anonymous crusader is.
And there’s never enough time for all the numbers buried in a poll. Tuesday’s Quinnipiac University survey on the Senate race had some interesting data deep within the numbers. One noteworthy nugget is Arlen Specter’s solid approval-rating among Democrats—67 percent of them say their opinion of him is favorable, while only 13 percent of them say their opinion is unfavorable. But with primary opponent Joe Sestak’s name recognition still low, there’s reason for Specter to worry, too. Among Democrats who know enough to have an opinion of both candidates, Sestak holds a healthy 54-37 percent lead.
March 2, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Tags: Arlen Specter, Bill Choby, Dan Onorato, Joe Sestak, John Murtha, PA-12, Ron Mackell
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Graham White
Mar 2nd, 2010
While Sestak does lead among Democrats “who know enough to have an opinion of both candidates”, it’s irresponsible to assume that he’ll carry the bulk of the undecided voters as a result. Sestak’s support comes largely from his own district and from those who are heavily involved with the process, and it is unlikely that the undecideds will shift toward him. While Sestak’s name recognition can only improve, at the end of the day it will be outweighed by the Senator Specter’s endorsements from President Obama and Governor Rendell.
Lee Levan
Mar 2nd, 2010
Graham
I don’t believe that the endorsements per se will mean a whole lot; but the support of the party machinery will. It will mean enough to beat Sestak unless Sestak starts spending heavily and immediately on TV ads boosting his name recognition and creating a positive image in place of the voters’ absence of knowledge about him. It’s almost too late to do that already.
Montco
Mar 2nd, 2010
I would want to know who is running a blog before I trust any of the info. sounds sketchy, let us know Dan!
GOPHAWK
Mar 3rd, 2010
Would hope to get David Diano’s analysis of the Q poll pas soon as he finishes dancing the conga.
Anonymous
Mar 3rd, 2010
HEY ARLEN SPECTER,
STOP SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS AND START DOING THE RIGHT THING! REMEMBER YOU WANTED TO PROTECT VICTIM-WITNESSES…RING ANY BELLS? I REPORTED FEDERAL CORRUPTION TO YOU, REP. BRADY, REP. FATTAH, COUNTY EXEC. DAN ONORATO AND CONGRESSMAN SESTAK. CONGRESSMAN SESTAK WAS KIND ENOUGH TO ADVISE THE U.S. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FURTHER OF AG CASE#200706634 BURLCO DIVORCE FRAUD THIS CASE AS YOU MAY RECALL FAILS TO BE PROSECUTED BECAUSE OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE – ANYWAY I’M STIL WAITING FOR YOUR HELP!
E-MAIL ME @RICHMILLSVICTIMOFCRIME@LIVE.COM
I’M STILL WAITING, STILL REPORTING TRHIS MATTER TO I-REPORT, U-REPORT & CONGRESS.ORG RICH MILLS “PEOPLES CHAMP” FIGHT CORRUPTION!!!
Jerry P., PA
Mar 11th, 2010
Burns is not a player….
The fact is, Tim Burns has never financially helped any Republican candidate for state office. Not even with a $5.00 contribution. He didn’t help Tom Ridge become Governor. He didn’t help Mike Fisher or Lynn Swann in their efforts to defeat liberal Ed Rendell. And he hasn’t supported local Republican candidates fighting Rendell’s tax, borrow and spend policies in Harrisburg like Senators John Pippy and Jane Orie or State Representative Mike Turzi.
On the federal level, he’s never contributed to a candidate to defeat Jack Mutha, whom he called “an embarrassment.” He never helped former Congresswoman Melissa Hart or former Congressman Phil English (both were defeated) or current Congressmen Tim Murphy or Bill Shuster.
He didn’t help Senator John McCain in his campaign to defeat Barrack Obama. And he didn’t support President George W. Bush with even a small donation against liberals Al Gore and John Kerry.
But now the state Party wants everyone to help Burns! But Tim Burns has never done anything to help any other Republican candidates except a one-time donation to Rick Santorum. Burns is not a team player!