Comments on: EXCLUSIVE: Hoeffel will poll the gubernatorial race

By: Chester County Democratic Committee » Hoeffel will run for governor

Chester County Democratic Committee » Hoeffel will run for governor — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:55:05 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: flynnbw

flynnbw — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:22:48 +0000

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

By: RBA

RBA — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:36:15 +0000

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

By: flynnbw

flynnbw — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:57:16 +0000

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.

By: flynnbw

flynnbw — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:56:58 +0000

By: nick

nick — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:44:40 +0000

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.

By: obamarox

obamarox — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:08:41 +0000

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.

By: David Diano

David Diano — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:14:06 +0000

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.

By: Seriously?

Seriously? — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:36:45 +0000

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.

By: Burgher

Burgher — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:31:52 +0000

“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.