Comments on: Hoeffel wins a straw poll

By: flynnbw

flynnbw — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:12:02 +0000

Just to clarify – I definitely believe that Jack Wagner is a “real Democrat” just as much as Joe Hoeffel – or Bobby Casey, for that matter. Wagner has always stuck up for the workers, and that means something to Democrats in PA.
Now he just needs to raise some money!

By: Lackademic

Lackademic — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:11:15 +0000

Wagner is the most qualified, honest, and capable politician in the field and pro-life to boot. Nobody will ever carry the Southeast again the way Fast Eddie did.

By: Brian Kline

Brian Kline — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:06:54 +0000

All the announced and possible Democratic candidates have regional power bases, but thus far none have built the statewide organization needed to win. Over the next eight months someone has to break from the pack and capitalize on their immediate advantages. Onorato appears to be the favored Democratic establishment candidate and has the biggest warchest. Wagner has run and been elected in statewide contests. Knox has deep pockets and has some interesting progressive policy ideas. Hoeffel has progressive netroots support and hails from the voter-rich southeast. Doherty – the Scranton Democrat – shocked us all with us statement of support for abortion-rights.

But as head into 2010, the Democratic gubernatorial primary will be overshadowed by the Specter-Sestak primary fight. That doesn’t bode well for Doherty, a latecomer to the race who lacks the name ID and organization. The same holds true for Wagner, who doesn’t elicit excitment from Democrats outside Western PA. I expect both to be primary causalties in early 2010.

Knox is a wildcard. If he likes his poll numbers heading into 2010, the self-funded Knox will soldier on. And as electric rate caps begin expiring in earlier 2010, some of his policy ideas may catch fire. But I think the real battle will come down between Hoeffel and Onorato. More on that later.

By: David Diano

David Diano — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:41:07 +0000

Obama isn’t going to let Sestak beat Specter. Besides the embarrassment of having his endorsed candidate lose, Obama’s got access to enough info about Sestak to realize Sestak’s no good in general, and a weak candidate on the larger stage. A friend of mine saw the Sestak for the first time in that Toomey debate. Her reaction to Sestak was: “He’s creepy.”

Toomey is pretending to be moderate, but that won’t last long. Specter will take him apart like a cheap watch.
Specter will capture the middle, and the Left. Toomey will be stuck in a ditch on the Right.

Toomey could probably win as a State Senator, but not as a US Senator.

By: K-Ram

K-Ram — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:04:52 +0000

IMO, Wagner does have the best shot in the general election against Corbett. I also think there will be a building of votes for Gerlach in the Republican primary in May. Don’t be surprised is we see Gerlach building support and either falling short or winning a tight race. The Dem race will be interesting, especially if Hoeffel does get in. Wagner is out working all the time. Recently I’ve seen him making several appearances in central PA.

More important issue – does anybody have any inside news from the Specter event in Philly? Hopefully Pres. Obama fulfilled his committment to Specter and he stays away and lets Sestak beat Specter. If it is a Specter / Toomey general, it’s hello Sen Toomey.

By: GOPHAWK

GOPHAWK — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:45:14 +0000

Montco Dem … they voted for Corbett last year when Obama was a rock star and Bush was a pariah. Our prosecutor will crush the Philly Fumo Rendell Hoeffel machine. We have had enough of the spending and taxing.

By: MontcoDem

MontcoDem — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:30:20 +0000

Joe Hoeffel could easily beat Tom Corbett in 2010.

And the only reason Hoeffel got creamed in his last state wide race was because he was up against the Specter machine. A good number of Dems voted for Snarlin in 2004. You will not see Dems voting for Corbett in ‘10.

By: David Diano

David Diano — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:13:37 +0000

Hoeffel was in a good mood at the Specter event.

Since he is the liberal candidate, he’s got a built in base of support. Whether it’s enough, is a different question, but he’s certainly got a following.

By: Lecsey: Bonusgate likely to dog Corbett in gov race… | GrassrootsPA

Lecsey: Bonusgate likely to dog Corbett in gov race… | GrassrootsPA — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:52:52 +0000

[...] Hoeffel wins straw poll… [...]

By: WPA

WPA — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:29:14 +0000

Don’t see any of these candidates winning the guv seat. Rendell and the budget fiasco is killing dems statewide. I think Wagner has the best shot.