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Live-blogging the Dem PA-12 meeting

DELMONT—Good morning, political junkies. We’re set up here at the Lamplighter Restaurant with Pittsburgh-based pa2010.com reporter John Manganaro. The candidates are here, committee people and other voting delegates are seated. This will be sort of a live-blog-lite, to allow us time to move around the room.

Stay tuned.

10:06—They’re asking people to get seated, but still waiting for some more delegates. We’ve spoken to Ryan Bucchianeri, Ed Cernic Jr., Barbara Hafer and Mark Critz.

10:18—An adviser to Hafer just called Critz “unelectable.” A story later.

10:20—They’re calling this puppy to order.

10:22—Jack Hanna is getting it started. Says of John Murtha: “His fearlessness is an example to us all in public service.” A moment of silence for the late congressman.

10:26—Hanna’s making sure everyone realizes there’s two elections on May 18.

10:28—While Hanna’s talking process, here’s a fun aside: As people came in, Ed Cernic’s wife was handing out Vote Cernic literature—in the form of packets of petunia seeds.

10:30—Cernic says people in southwest Pennsylvania have a “unique” voter profile.

10:32—And here comes the special election national-hyper-ventilating. “The country will be looking at this race as a bellwether for the country’s mood. … That responsibility is going to be on us as Democrats to support the candidate, whoever it is, to win this seat. Important things are at stake here.”

10:34—It counting off how many votes each county has, Hanna doesn’t mention that Washington is boycotting.

10:36—Each candidate will talk for up to 5 minutes, before roll-call vote on paper ballot.

10:38—There will be no second-ballot. Not that it matters, with Critz widely expected to crush this one.

10:40—One guy, after asking for clarification that the state party’s executive committee has final say, shouts out “well then what are we doing here?!”

10:45—Ryan Bucchianeri is talking about how Republicans understand that the election will be about change. Says Democrats can’t let them claim that mantle.

10:50—Ed Cernic Jr. is framing himself as the party candidate, the guy who’s always helped elect everyone here and their candidates.

10:54—Well, Cernic definitely talked longer than 5 minutes… he sort of got clapped off the podium.

11:01—Critz talks about his “love, respect and trust” for the people of the district. “I was the guy who was there.”

11:02—Talks about the smears against him, calls it “desperation.”

11:03—Says he’s raised $130K, with $90,000 in commitments. Say’s he’ll have a quarter million soon.

11:04—This is clearly a Critz room, judging by the cheers and hoots.

11:07—Hafer is talking about electability. Says anything she’s said about Critz will be far worse coming from GOP. Apologizes for any offense her Murtha comments caused.

11:09—Says no one involved in “insider deals” can win. “I know what it takes to win. I’ve been vetted.”

11:11—So if applause is any measure, clearly it’s a Critz-Hafer race.

11:12—Time for the voting process. This could take a while. But stay tuned.

11:29—They’re taking the votes now. Allegheny County’s 1 vote goes for Hafer, Armstrong’s 6 votes go for Hafer.

11:30—Cambria County, 13 for Cernic, 6 for Critz. Fayette County’s 17 votes go to Critz. Green’s 6 votes go for Critz.

11:31—Indiana County, 3 votes for Hafer, 1 vote for Critz.

11:32—Somerset County’s 5 votes for Critz.

11:33—The two Washington County voters here go for Critz. Reports from their separate boycott meeting say Critz won with 19 votes to 12 for Hafer.

11:34—A little delay while Westmoreland finishes counting. They’ve got the most votes with 24.

11:40—Westmoreland County goes 11 for Hafer, 10 for Cernic, 1 for Cernic, 1 for Bucchianeri.

11:41—Our trusty reporter John is tallying the votes as we speak.

11:42—By our count, it’s Critz with the win with 47 votes. Hafer follows with 21, Cernic gets 14 and Bucchianeri 1.

12:00: THE OFFICIAL VOTE-COUNT FOR THE DEM RECOMMENDATION: Critz 46, Hafer 22, Cernic 14, Bucchianeri 1

12:02—That’s it for the live-blog folks. Me and John have been working the room talking to the candidates. We’ll have lots of stories up soon.

March 6, 2010 at 10:06 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

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