Saidel’s head start in Lt. Gov. race growing formidable

As the first candidate by far to pSaidel, a former Philadelphia City Controller, already has a campaign war-chest of more than half-a-million dollars, political consultants working on his behalf and he recently netted the endorsement of a major teacher’s union. A little less than a year before next year’s primary, it all means that other Democrats could end up hesitant to challenge him. Saidel is the a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/04/wanted-democrats-for-lt-gov/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fwanted-democrats-for-lt-gov%2F','Wanted%3A+Democrats+for+Lt.+Gov.')" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fwanted-democrats-for-lt-gov%2F','only+Democrat')" target="_blank"only Democrat/a so far to signal his intention to run. Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty is a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/05/after-an-electoral-sweep-doherty-eyes-higher-office/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fafter-an-electoral-sweep-doherty-eyes-higher-office%2F','considering+a+run')" target="_blank"considering a run/a, but may be leaning toward a Congressional bid instead./p
p“We have a great statewide base already in place,” said Don Jones, Saidel’s longtime political adviser who is managing his campaign. “We just feel real good about where we are.”/p
pSaidel’s early fundraising strength could prove his most important political weapon going forward. He had more than $660,000 on hand last month, according to a href="http://www.campaignfinance.state.pa.us/CFReport.aspx?CFReportID=70496&Section=Cover" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.campaignfinance.state.pa.us']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.campaignfinance.state.pa.us%2FCFReport.aspx%3FCFReportID%3D70496%26amp%3BSection%3DCover','campaign+finance+data')" target="_blank">campaign finance data, a large sum for a race that often costs less than half-a-million dollars to run. The sum is far more than other candidates for the office. Dauphin County Commissioner Nick DiFrancesco had about p“I think we have a very good advantage,” Jones said. “The last Lt. Gov. race cost about 400-grand; we should be close to, if not over, a million [dollars] soon.”/p
pAdded Saidel: “I think we’ll be able to get a message across as to what I think is important for the future of Pennsylvania. It’s a reflection of who we are and what we care about.”/p
pHis a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20090707_State_AFT_backs_Saidel_for_lieutenant_governor.html" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.philly.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpennsylvania%2F20090707_State_AFT_backs_Saidel_for_lieutenant_governor.html','recent+endorsement')" target="_blank">recent endorsement from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Federation of Teachers reflected his long-standing relationships with organized labor.

“We have a history with Jon,” AFT state president Ted Kirsch told …

July 7, 2009 at 11:03 am | Comments (2)

Aichele makes Lt. Gov. run official

announced today. The Republican had already effectively said she would run …

June 23, 2009 at 12:32 pm | Comments (1)

Aichele in for Lt. Gov.

Chester County Commissioner Carol Aichele is laying the groundwork for a GOP run for Lieutenant Governor, The Delaware County Daily Times …

June 2, 2009 at 12:29 pm | Comments (2)

Wanted: Democrats for Lt. Gov.

The list of Republicans mulling a run for Lieutenant Governor reads like a GOP variety show, with more than a dozen candidates of every stripe lining up to play second fiddle to their party’s gubernatorial nominee. They include party mainstays, rising stars, political unknowns and everything in between.

But at this still-early stage, the Republicans are mostly alone in the field. Only one Democrat has said he is likely to run, and while others have been mentioned as viable, a deluge of Democratic candidates in to the race seems unlikely anytime soon.

So why are Democrats lukewarm to the contest?

April 19, 2009 at 6:10 pm | Comments (1)