Williams looks to break out of ‘the box’

For almost the entirety of his short gubernatorial campaign, Democrat Anthony Williams has been identified with one issue: school choice. And it’s been fair game for supporters and critics alike to tie him to the issue—few Democrats have made it such a centerpiece of their political identity, and the state Senator’s campaign has so far been almost entirely funded by school choice advocates.

But five weeks before primary day, Williams is…

April 14, 2010 at 9:00 am | Comments (5)

Brady not worried about an all-Philly ticket

PHILADELPHIA—If Bob Brady has his way, the Democratic Party’s gubernatorial ticket will be all Philly, all the time. And that doesn’t bother him one bit.

Brady endorsed Anthony Williams for governor on Monday. He’s also endorsed—and been the most adamant supporter of—Jonathan Saidel for Lieutenant Governor. Williams is a state Senator hailing from west Philadelphia. Saidel is a former City Controller from northeast Philadelphia. Conventional wisdom holds that an all-Philly ticket would be disastrous in…

April 12, 2010 at 1:30 pm | Comments (12)

Brady endorses Williams for guv, vows to turn out vote for him

PHILADELPHIA—Congressman Bob Brady (D-1) threw his political support behind Anthony Williams’ run for governor Monday, giving the state Senator’s campaign the backing of one of Philadelphia’s most powerful Democratic officials.

Brady, who is chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee, promised that the entire weight of the local party’s political machine would be behind Williams, going so far as to say that Williams should focus his campaign elsewhere. “We’ll take care of his back here,”…

April 12, 2010 at 10:57 am | Comments (9)

Chicago tactics from the Dems

Last week my pa2010.com colleague Beth Hegedus reported on efforts to strike the names of one or more Republican opponents to Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) from the primary ballot. The Philadelphia Daily News has since reported on the successful effort, apparently involving a politically connected Democratic lawyer, to strike a challenger to Congressman Bob Brady (D-1) from the ballot as well.

Why would two Democrats, with a…

March 24, 2010 at 6:39 pm | Comments (12)

A snowy Lancaster rumor mill

LANCASTER—The Senate candidates tussled. The gubernatorial candidates laid down familiar talking points. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to party with her fellow Democrats. All of it happened as mounds of snow were piling up outside, leaving Democratic insiders who hadn’t booked a room at the Lancaster Host Resort here wondering if they could safely leave for the night and still make it back for Saturday’s important business.

Yes, it was a hectic evening at the…

February 6, 2010 at 3:00 am | Comments (3)

As chatter of an Onorato-Doherty ticket builds, a Saidel ally is ready to fight

At first, it seemed like nothing more than innocent speculation. A couple stories and columns mentioned that Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty could join Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato on a Democratic ticket for governor. Those pieces didn’t mention former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel, who had been preparing a campaign for Lieutenant Governor for well over a year. And Marty Marks, a spokesman and strategist for Saidel, didn’t like that.

So he called up seemingly…

February 1, 2010 at 7:40 pm | Comments (29)

Specter on seniority: ‘I’m going to get it back’

PHILADELPHIA—Senator Arlen Specter sounded confident Monday that he would eventually regain his seniority in Washington, which was stripped from him by his new party last week.

“I’m going to get it back,” he told pa2010.com with a smile after entering a crowded ballroom here for the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee’s spring dinner.

In between accepting a slew of warm welcomes, including one from Congresman Bob Brady (D-1), who is the head…

May 11, 2009 at 6:17 pm | Comments (5)