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Pulling support from Pike, Leach goes neutral in 6th District (Updated)

State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) has withdrawn his support for Doug Pike’s 6th District congressional bid, dealing Pike his first significant loss of an endorsement in a primary that has been turned upside down by the emergence of challenger Manan Trivedi.

PoliticsPA reports that Leach will now stay neutral in the primary, saying that’s consistent with his political policy for intra-party contests.

“I originally endorsed Doug in the race at a time when it appeared that there would be no other candidates in the Democratic primary,” Leach told the Web site. “Since then, another candidate, running a serious campaign has entered the race. Therefore, I am reverting to my original policy of non-involvement.”

As of Tuesday morning, Leach’s name was still listed on the endorsements page of Pike’s campaign Web site. Leach, one of the most prominent liberals in the area, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Ever since Trivedi, a Reading physician and Iraq War veteran, got into the primary in September, he has turned heads among Democratic insiders, racking up solid early fundraising numbers and winning the endorsements prominent insiders like state Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) and former state Senator Connie Williams. Leach was the first prominent elected official to officially pull his endorsement, though the Berks County Recorder of Deeds also withdrew his endorsement shortly after Trivedi entered the race.

Pike still has far more endorsements, including from current members of Congress, and the former Inquirer editorial writer is drawing heavily on his own fortune to significantly outspend Trivedi.

But Leach’s move underscores just how conflicted some party insiders are feeling about the coming primary.

UPDATE: Leach’s name has been removed from Pike’s endorsement page.

November 24, 2009 at 9:53 am

--Dan Hirschhorn

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comments

comments [14] | post a comment

  1. Danny Boy!

    Nov 24th, 2009

    Looks like you were right! Great work.

  2. Danny B

    Nov 24th, 2009

    In other news, Sen Leach had this to say about baseball:

    “I rooted for the Phillies when they were the defending champs. But when they faced a contested World Series this year, I though it was appropriate for me to cheer for both teams.”

  3. David Diano

    Nov 24th, 2009

    I met Trivedi at an event. I was VERY impressed with him. If he can level the financial playing field with Pike, it should be an interesting primary.

  4. Well then

    Nov 24th, 2009

    Does anyone else feel like this has gone from a Pike walk to a serious contest? They have no differences so far on their positions. No policy papers or anything The only advantage Pike had (besides money) were all these endorsements and now he has lost 2. This campaign needs to do something big soon, this primary isn’t far off.

  5. Lee Levan

    Nov 24th, 2009

    “In other news, Sen Leach had this to say about baseball:

    “I rooted for the Phillies when they were the defending champs. But when they faced a contested World Series this year, I though it was appropriate for me to cheer for both teams.” ”

    Love the laughter. Thanks Danny.

  6. Brian Kline

    Nov 24th, 2009

    I think we’re witnessing the makings of a primary upset next spring.

  7. David Diano

    Nov 24th, 2009

    Well then-
    The primary is still a long way off. Everyone is getting an early jump this year.

    What’s unfortunate is that too few of these 2010 candidates showed this much enthusiasm helping the 2009 candidates.

    We’ve got about 3 months until petitions and the local county conventions and then another 3 months until the Primary.

    It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

  8. oh Running Analogies

    Nov 25th, 2009

    If you walk to the first 3 miles of a marathon you’re going to be too far behind at the end for it to make any difference.

    So…..set the race up early.

  9. Mike S

    Nov 25th, 2009

    WOW this is amazing. It looks like this race is changing and not in the direction of Doug Pike. Watch out “party insiders” you might have withdraw your support or switch it soon enough!

  10. Ha

    Nov 25th, 2009

    All these comments are silly. Anyone trying to read the tea leaves based on the whimsical declarations of politicians is off their rocker.

    I think it is clear that Pike still has an enormous money advantage, which could be the ballgame because neither of them has much or any name ID.

    It’s also true that this looks like it could be a real primary with both sides having money, message, and galvanized supporters.

    Everything else is windowdressing at this point.

  11. flynnbw

    Nov 25th, 2009

    Exactly! How much money has Dr. Trivedi raised?

  12. The real flynnbw

    Nov 25th, 2009

    Please don’t use my name Flynnbw

  13. Brian Kline

    Nov 25th, 2009

    I agree there is still time to right the ship, but it just seems every few weeks another prominent politician is endorsing Trivedi, or another one has withdrawn their support from Pike. That has been the storyline for the past few months. The Pike campaign is bleeding and in need of a major shakeup.

  14. Brian Kline

    Nov 25th, 2009

    SO I just want to be upfront so as not to cause any problems, but I fully support Trivedi. So be sure to not all my comments on the 4 news pieces on Pike and Trivedi are going to have comments against Pike and for Trivedi.

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