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Dan Hirschhorn's Blog

Dan Hirschhorn's Blog

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Not so indirectly, Knox responds to Hoeffel’s ‘progressive’ criticism

Not so indirectly, Knox responds to Hoeffel’s ‘progressive’ criticism

It was interesting to read Democrat Tom Knox’s op-ed on pa2010.com Tuesday. In the brief piece, the Democratic candidate for governor sought to play up his “progressive” credentials. But more than that, he tried to dismiss the importance of such labels in the first place.

“I believe Pennsylvania voters are less concerned with which candidate claims to be the most ‘progressive,’ and more concerned about which candidate is most focused on progress—in solving the challenges and problems in their lives,” Knox wrote.

Knox’s sentiment was clearly a response to what Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel told us a couple months ago. When pa2010.com reported that he was considering getting into the race himself, Hoeffel voiced concern that there were no genuine progressives in the Democratic field. He has since then taken some tentative but concrete steps toward launching a campaign, including polling the race and gauging reaction from supporters.

“I believe there’s got to be southeastern Pennsylvania progressives in these state races in 2010,” Hoeffel said at the time. “I think it’s really important for the future of the party. I think that’s what will lead to victories for the party statewide. I want to make sure there are good candidates running, people that I can support. If I think I’ve got something different to offer, I’d think about that.”

When I spoke to Hoeffel, I always got the impression—implicitly, not explicitly—that he saw Knox as the most progressive candidate currently in the field, but was less sure the wealthy businessman can beat a political insider like Dan Onorato.

I’m not sure whether Knox realizes this—I never made it that clear in my reporting, since Hoeffel never really said it outright. But obviously, Knox wants to be seen as the true progressive in this race before anyone else gets in. His larger point? It doesn’t matter.

“I am a Democrat, plain and simple,” he wrote.

September 8, 2009 at 4:58 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

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  1. WESTPADEM6

    Sep 8th, 2009

    I think for Hoeffel to act like he’s walking on clouds above the other candidates is a little goofy for a second tier candidate. This could turn into a demolition derby where 3, 4, or 5 other cars gang up on and smash the pretty car.

  2. OBAMAROX

    Sep 9th, 2009

    The pretty girl being Onorato? I am opposed to the corporate Democrats like Onorato. Talk about lipstick on a pig. The corporate pigs who own these Ds like Onorato are stopping us from providing health care to people, from letting people organize and work for benefits and better work conditions, from reining in the credit card companies and Wall Street who are crushing the consumer and small business, and from saving our jobs from outsourcing. I want to see, first, someone who is not owned by the corporate interests. After that, we can talk. Hoeffel, Knox or Wagner can have my vote if they pass that test. If all three pass, then we can move onto other issues. Onorato does not pass the initial test.

  3. WESTPADEM6

    Sep 9th, 2009

    No… read the read article before you comment… pretty girl being Hoeffel.

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