SEIU backs Pike in 6th District

Democratic congressional hopeful Doug Pike got one of his biggest labor endorsements of the campaign Monday, when the Pennsylvania chapter of the powerful Service Employees International Union backed him in the 6th District.

Even as primary opponent Manan Trivedi has taken a big lead over Pike when it comes to party support, Pike still has the backing of far more labor unions. The SEIU endorsement marked 18 unions who have endorsed Pike or given him…

March 15, 2010 at 12:05 pm | Comments (1)

LEFTOVERS: ‘Fumocrats’ for Meehan, Payton backs Onorato, Pike still wants a pledge

A few things slipped by us toward the end of the week.

Apparently former U.S. Attorney Pat Meehan is getting some help from friends and allies of the man he helped put in prison, the convicted Vince Fumo. The Philadelphia Daily News reports on a few “Fumocrats” who have given to Meehan’s 7th District congressional campaign, including former Philly mayoral candidate Martin Weinberg and former City Controller Thomas Leonard.

Meehan’s allies says…

March 14, 2010 at 2:35 pm | Comments (3)

A big win for Trivedi in MontCo

PLYMOUTH MEETING—Congressional hopeful Manan Trivedi won the endorsement of Montgomery County Democrats Thursday night, capping a furious run in which Trivedi has gone from relatively late entrant into the race to the favorite of the party’s rank-and-file throughout the 6th District.

Trivedi, a Reading physician and Iraq War veteran, overwhelmingly beat out former Inquirer editorial writer Doug Pike for the endorsement, winning 77 votes to Pike’s 28. It was an even larger margin of victory…

March 12, 2010 at 5:09 am | Comments (46)

LEFTOVERS: SpecterPride, Kanjorski’s stimulus job, electricians for Pike

Reporters on the ground from Plymouth Meeting to Latrobe, and we still managed to miss plenty on Thursday.

Senator Arlen Specter will be formally rolling out his committee of major supporters within the LGBT community on Friday, in what his campaign is calling SpecterPride. The 68-member group includes Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News. “No other elected official in all of Pennsylvania has such a long record of accomplishments on LGBT issues as…

March 12, 2010 at 1:32 am | Comments (2)

LEFTOVERS: Earmark scrutiny for Critz, firefighters for Specter, Young Dems for Pike

Mark Critz’s staunchest critic might be out of the race, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods.

The candidate who Barbara Hafer lambasted as un-vetted is facing scrutiny over a meeting he apparently attended in 2005 that led to an earmark for defense contractors, an earmark that eventually led to convictions. CQ Politics reports that Critz represented his late boss John Murtha at the meeting, though it’s far from clear…

March 10, 2010 at 11:31 pm | Comments (2)

LEFTOVERS: A clean campaign call from Pike, Specter’s new book, petition updates

Doug Pike tried for something of ceasefire Monday—and his primary opponent’s response basically amounted to, “we’ll get back to ya, but probably not.”

Pike, one of two Democrats seeking the party’s nod in the 6th Congressional District, cited a report from our buddies at PoliticsPA that noted the contest between him and Manan Trivedi could become one of the “nastiest” primaries of the year (we agree, by the way).

“That would be a real disservice…

March 8, 2010 at 11:30 pm | Comments (6)

More Dem endorsements in the 6th

A week before before Montgomery County Democratic insiders meet to make their endorsements, Reading physician Manan Trivedi sought to demonstrate increasing support in the area.

Trivedi, a candidate in the 6th Congressional District, announced endorsements from four Lower Merion Township Commissioners, including Bruce Reed, the body’s president.

“Manan Trivedi brings an unique combination of intelligence, education and experience to this Congressional race,” Reed said in a campaign statement. “Coupled with his familiarity and understanding of…

March 4, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Comments (2)

Gordon bows out in 6th District

Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon dropped out of the race in the 6th Congressional District Friday, ending a campaign that never really got off the ground.

Gordon, one of three Democrats who were seeking the nomination to take on Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6), only entered the race late last year, a few months after Doug Pike and Manan Trivedi had already begun jostling in the hotly-contested primary. In a statement Friday, Gordon did not…

February 26, 2010 at 3:43 pm | Comments (2)

Brian Gordon, candidate for Congress… in 2012?

WEST CHESTER—As he waited for a chance to court Chester County Democrats here last weekend, acknowledging the challenges of starting a campaign late, Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon had something interesting to say about his political future.

“I’m either the last candidate out for 2010 or the earliest guy in for 2012,” Gordon said.

He quickly added that he’s in no way conceding this year’s primary match-up against Doug Pike and Manan…

February 23, 2010 at 2:17 pm | Comments (2)

Pike on ‘establishment’ endorsements

Not that it’s a big deal, but I find it worth noting that there’s been something of a tonal shift from Democrat Doug Pike and his campaign on that well-worn subject of endorsements. Twice in as many days, Pike or his campaign have seemed to play down opponent Manan Trivedi’s recent endorsement success by saying his support is coming from the “establishment.” Campaign manager Andrew Eldredge-Martin used that language on Friday, and after Trivedi was…

February 20, 2010 at 7:00 pm | Comments (3)