Clinton, Obama Court Pennsylvania Powerbrokers
WASHINGTON — Bill George can’t believe his luck. Suddenly, the head of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO labor union federation finds himself courted by both Democratic presidential candidates’ campaigns.
Ultimately, he says, the winner is working class Americans, and he’s in no hurry to endorse either Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama, as long as they are both talking about health care, trade policy and other issues of his members’ concern.
“I’m holding them to the fire trying to get them to have more discussions about the resolve of those issues,” said George, a Democratic superdelegate whose organization has 900,000 members in the state.
Pennsylvania’s political power players, who watched in many past presidential elections as early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire typically got much of the attention from candidates and the media, are suddenly in the spotlight — at least on the Democratic side.
The state is the next big battleground because on April 22 it will apportion 158 delegates, the biggest remaining prize, among candidates based on their relative support.
As the two candidates crisscross the state for the next six weeks, there are a number of players to watch who could make a difference behind the scenes and in front of the camera leading up to election. They include:
— Gov. Ed Rendell, the outspoken former Philadelphia mayor who later served as DNC chairman, is aggressively campaigning for Clinton. Popular in Philadelphia, where he was credited with the city’s renaissance in the ’90s, he could help Clinton snag votes in the state’s populous southeast and with fundraising.
— Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, elected on a promise to reform city hall, has endorsed Clinton as a pledged delegate to the national nominating convention this summer. Elected last year, he isn’t as established as Rendell. Yet Nutter, who is black, could help Clinton among black voters in the city of about 1.5 million people.
— U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, also from Philadelphia, is the only black member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation. He’s backing Obama and could help solidify his support among black voters.
— One key Philadelphia endorsement up for grabs is that of Rep. Robert Brady, chairman of Philadelphia’s Democratic committee. The once powerful machine is not what it used to be, but still has some influence. On Friday, after hearing arguments from former President Clinton on behalf of his wife and from Rep. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, on Obama’s behalf, ward leaders on the committee said they wanted to hear directly from each candidate before making a decision. Brady said he’ll back the candidate the committee endorses. A decision will be made before the primary.
— In suburban Philadelphia, Clinton is backed by Rep. Allyson Schwartz, the only woman to represent the state in Congress, and Rep. Joe Sestak, a former Navy vice admiral. Murphy, who represents a Philadelphia and suburban district, has endorsed Obama. The three could help with fundraising and in attracting some voters.
— In western Pennsylvania, a key endorsement would be that of Rep. John Murtha. Murtha, a leading critic of the Iraq war and a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is a prolific fundraiser and his endorsement could help attract anti-war voters. Murtha has said he has not decided whether he will endorse before the primary.
— In the Pittsburgh area, the endorsement of Dan Onorato, the chief executive of Allegheny County, population 1.2 million, could have impact among the region’s urban and suburban voters. Onorato, a moderate Democrat mentioned as a future gubernatorial candidate, has not endorsed a candidate, nor has he made up his mind whether he will.
— Actively courted by the two candidates, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced Friday he’s supporting Clinton. At 28, Ravenstahl is the youngest chief executive of a major U.S. city. Last year, he was elected to finish out the two-year term of the late Bob O’Connor, whom he was appointed to replace in 2006. While Ravenstahl’s endorsement could help some, he has not had much time to establish himself.
— Sen. Bob Casey has said he won’t endorse a candidate before the primary because he’s worried about party unity. But the son of the late former governor could have pull behind the scenes. Both Clinton and Obama campaigned for him in his successful 2006 race against Republican Sen. Rick Santorum.
— State Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney has endorsed Clinton.
–In fundraising circles, Obama has the support of Peter Buttenweiser, an investment banking heir in Philadelphia who is one of the nation’s biggest contributors to Democratic candidates. He’s also helped by Mark Alderman, a Philadelphia lawyer and fundraiser. Alan Kessler and Mark Aronchick are both Philadelphia lawyers and fundraisers for Clinton.
U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, who represents Pittsburgh, is popular in his district, and could have some influence if he decided to endorse before the primary. That’s true also of Rep. Tim Holden in south-central Pennsylvania.
Doyle said he’s remaining uncommitted, at least for now, because he wants to be able to help unite the party and bring the factions together when it’s all said and done.
“It’s not going to be the Barack and Hillary people who bring the factions together,” Doyle said. “It’s going to be those of us who are still seen as neutral and have some standing in the party.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQ6PYcKseM
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTOFC_nV30&feature=related
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyu_ewTAu4A
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqlYlTxnUdE
part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17S_1dChcBg
part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUT5xyWQyyM
part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCQOgTKtNhA
part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRHPrjf4h6g
part 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm-5MrOrqPE
part 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQ6PYcKseM
part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTOFC_nV30&feature=related
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyu_ewTAu4A
part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqlYlTxnUdE
part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17S_1dChcBg
part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUT5xyWQyyM
part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCQOgTKtNhA
part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRHPrjf4h6g
part 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm-5MrOrqPE
part 9
Black Power church sermons on Christmas day?
Is this how our society has evolved? Will power hungry minorities take over & run their own concentration camps?
Fear causes RACISM. Obama’s fear-mongering pastor is bigotry in it’s worst form. He is spewing his hate in person, on video, etc. for the world to hear & emulate.
How many kids heard this message of “hope”? What are the next generation of black children being taught? To be terrorists?
All whites should receive an apology. Many whites support black communities & have even died for the civil rights movement. It starts with Obama…
It’s not about black or white. Be do you notice that race is supposed to NOT be a factor, but whenever a minority is involved it always is. A hispanic last name automatically makes you think of the illegal immigration. Is that our fault?
Public perception & stereotypes be what they may over the years…do you feed the wrong perception? I have a lot of heroes & Bill Cosby is one of them but nobody wants to listen to his wisdom….
OVER 90% OF BLACK PEOPLE VOTE FOR OSAMA
WHO ARE THE REAL RACISTS?
EXACTLY! OR WOULD SAYING THAT BE RACIST!??
What a crock. This is clearly not a case of “neutrality” and “party unity”. Rather, it’s obviously a case of “what can you do for me later if I support you now”. Although Hillary’s puppets like Rendell are transparent in their role, at least they picked a side, instead of picking it after the fact. One would have expected Murtha to endorse Obama enthusiastically given his stance on the Iraq war, but I guess he’s hedging his bets (once again).
Let’s hope the fine people of Pennsylvania have been watching the news!
These issues with Obama’s pastor (Jeremiah Wright) should be enough to tell them Obama is NOT the person to be voting for!
Obama will not publicly denounce this nut job! That speaks volumes!
Not everything in America should revolve around either convenience or money. Its the principles that hold the USA together nor the race nor gender. Anyone within the USA and without that speaks of our Nation problems such as Barack Hussein Obama’s contentions without offering a plausible solution is doing the people in the USA a diservice. There are those who see the glass half full and others who see it half empty and it has to do a lot with the character of such persons. There are many of those that have a greater capacity for hatred than love and such are the ones that are allways blaming their bitterness on others and the Nation as a whole. Jeremy Wright and many such ego driven characters abound everywhere but to Barack Hussein Obama and anyone out there who’s listening or reading this, “tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are”, for these are the offsprings of the scribes and pharisees that crucified Jesus.
Palo Alto High School’s Verde Magazine published an opinion piece on why Barack Obama is the best democratic candidate for the upcoming election.
You can read it on The Paly Voice at:
http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=6466
I think that Mr. Obama has a chance in PA, the media has stated that PA is a racist state and that Obama can’t win there, I think they are mistaken. When the people of PA attend his rallies and hear him speak, and see how cool he stays under negative fire from Mrs. Clinton, they will know who the canidate for president needs to be.
I have yet to see Obama “PUBLICLY” condemn Pastor Wright and his remarks.
Furthermore, what took him and his campaign so long to come out now and say this, “IF” he in fact did. I don’t want a prepared staement I want to see him on national TV telling the country!
Obama now wants me to believe that Pastor Wright has never said anything similar to these remarks while Obama was attending the services for 20 years? As close to this Pastor as he has puportedly been he’s never heard anything like this?
Who’s kidding who here? That is totally UNBELIEVABLE!
Senator Obama better come clean on this one because I don’t think it’s going to go away any time soon!
i could never vote for obama, his pastor talked so much hate he is a racist and obama was there for 20 years, his church is http://www.tucc.org go to the web site your self, they are against whites, how in this country can white people vote for obama when he hates the white race, i hope u all have got to hear his pastor i have never seen so much hate in a church in my life, i will not or could not vote for this man. its all coming out obama pack it up your finished, im voting for hillary
OK Hillary! Your a child of the 60’s, over 60, overweight and over bearing. Those tie-dyed clothes and burnt bras are out of fashion. It is time to retire and back someone who knows THIS CENTURY - not the era you grew up in.
Keep the Phormer Phirst Philander at home and away from women. Be a stay-at-home mom and make some cookies. Just get out! I don’t want to see you testifying under oath, ever again, and hear you say, like you did 56 times before ” I just don’t remember, I don’t recall”.
This country has seen enough of the Clintons to last a long time.
I guess the Union agrees with Obama’s minister.
GD them.
Go McCain
AFL-CIO, please endorse Obama, he has lost the vote of every union when the leaders have endorsed him. Obama may have some of those military endorsements revoked after they read his ministers comments, which were, G.D. America. I’m sure that does not sit good with military rank and I’m not sure what voters would think of their support for someone who has listened to this for 20 years. For Obama to say he did not know Wright was making these statements he would have had to lived on Venus for the last 20 years. Everyone else knew about them, tell me a parishner didn’t know. If Obama gets the nomination, I vote McCain! For now, vote Hillary!
OBAMA 08 CHELSEA 12
If people are stupid and to be lead like sheep in this world we are in real trouble this time for a president like Obama. If he hates whites, and endorses (and I know he does) the works of his minister, you will not only have a race war on your hands but we will be fighting the middle east like never before. I am not a racist, but, I am learning through the media and reading a tremendous amount about Mr. Obama that this man is not fit to run a county let alone an entire country. I am right now very scared, for my family, and the entire USA. I do not think he is a fanatic, he is a planner of superiority of destruction of white race. Very dangerous. Very.
My response to Clinton, Obama Court Pennsylvania Power brokers is that Hilary Clinton has a strong network because of her husband. I dont think that she is that experiences being married to a man who was president, I wonder what kind of relationship they really have. Is this I scratch your back because i stood with you publicly with the Monica scandal so you have to support me now.
I am sorry some thing is not right about those two. I am sorry they come over as racist and petty.
I really did like Bill Clinton as a President but his wife is another story. She cannot run a good financial campaign and she wants to run America. She is luck Obama is a gentleman!
But the best man or woman wins.
I now understand why Bill was unfaithful she is not easy
She is riding on her husband shirttails. If she wins what is in it for the both of them. It does not seem that they are serious about the people just them selves!
All we read is endorsements
we want clinton to bring out her tax returns, her experience
on foreign matters and Norman Hsu donations to her campaign.
so hillary if you don’t have nothing to hide. WHY don’t you bring out
what hiding from the american people
with all the scandals that’s keep on coming. please support a campaign for obama to quit in the race for the sake of the democratic party to win in national election.
give hillary a good fight to mccain. it is better the devil you know. what else for obama’s dirt to come out at least hillary has been in the public eye for 35 years
Have seen the main articles. This is one of my comments:
You call this Christianity, Senator?
Please gimme a break. And you defended this for twenty years? You used this to blame President for Iran hating America?
Leaves me speechless.
You are a rotten gold-seeker opportunist posing as a Messiah of Change but you a dangerous man in Public Office.
PENNSYLVANIA IS ONE STATE AND THE MEDIA MAKES IT SOUND LIKE IT REPRESENTS THE WHOLE COUNTRY. OF COURSE BECUASE IT IS HILLARY’S STATE. BUT TAKE INDIANA AND NO CAROLINA WHICH LEANS TOWARD OBAMA AND HAS MORE DELEGATES TOGETHER THAN PENNSYLVANIA.
If Obama wins I am sure he will be buddy buddy again with his pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah Wright. Obama will always disagree with anybody once he is cornered but we don’t know wheteher he is sincere or not. To the delegates from Pennsylvania I hope you all vote for Sen. Hilarry Clinton
who has a better credential than Obama.