[...] Hoeffel will poll Gov race before deciding if he will jump in… [...]

I’m pleased, but skeptical. Onorato seems to be the candidate with the most momentum and at least progressives can comfort themselves that he has a decent technocratic economic record even if his positions on social issues give them heartburn. That said, if Hoeffel gets in and rallies progressives, that could help pull Onorato to the left even if Hoeffel can’t win.

Poll? If you have something to contribute, just get in the race. I detest these poll driven politicians.

“Poll driven”? I agree with your sentiment, but let’s put this in perspective – this guy ran against Specter. The polling in that one was always clear that he had no chance, but he brought to the table what he had to contribute. Bottom line is if you’re going to put yourself through statewide race trauma, at least do it with a shot toward wiining if not at least moving the agenda forward.

Dan,

In what kind of bizarro universe is “potential candidate to do poll” newsworthy — let alone warrants EXCLUSIVE chest-thumping?

I realize this is a blog and the newsworthiness threshold is lowered significantly. But really, it must be a slow slow news day.

Joe Hoeffel doesn’t need a poll to tell him he’s unelectable. He has the still-gaping wounds and the embarassing book of 2004 press clippings to remind him.

Seriously-
If someone is willing to spend money to conduct a poll, it does indicate a level of “seriousness” to enter the race. The poll may also contain questions to determine hot-button issues. A candidate should know what issues are concerning voters.

That said, I doubt any poll would show him electable.

He seems better off as a medium fish in a small pond. Statewide pond looks a little too big.

Pollsters destroy democracy by distorting the dialogue. Look at Luntz, Caddell and the Clinton years with people like Dick Morris and Doug Schoen and his buddy Penn. They all played the politicians for their real paymasters the corporations. Any public servant should swear off pollsters and speak their truth as they see it. Any good politician knows from listening to a cross-section of people whether their ideas make sense and have appeal. The pols should talk to the people directly and listen to the people directly and not pay some corporate shill to do it for them.

Joe HOeffel has ZERO shot. PA is ready for an R Governor now. Gov. Fat-Bastard Rendell has made enough of a mess in the state. Go ahead Joe…..run. hehehehehehe.

Commissioner Hoeffel would be a great Lt.Gov. candidate – fairly high name-rec in SE PA, experience in various levels of gov’t, ability to appeal to the base, etc. As a gubernatorial candidate, on the other hand, he would be a disaster.

Commissioner Hoeffel would be a great Lt.Gov. candidate – fairly high name-rec in SE PA, experience in various levels of gov’t, ability to appeal to the base, etc. As a gubernatorial candidate, on the other hand, I don’t see him having a ton of success.

Joe Hoeffel would be banished to the dustbin of political history were it not for the traitor Jim Matthews in Montgomery County who turned a has been loser into the most power Democrat in SE Pennsylvania. An unimanginable betrayal of those who got him elected. I hope the GOP and the voters of Montgomery County tar and feather him and run him back to Philly with his loudmouth brother on a rail

Ok, “disaster” is a bit of a strong word. I revise and extend my remarks.

[...] fueled by a concern that the party may be tacking right, made his decision after commissioning a poll on the race that his campaign said yielded encouraging results. While no formal announcement has [...]