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 (27)

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)

More ads target Pa. reps on health care

As the push for health care reform legislation enters what seems like the home stretch, representatives on both sides of the aisle are being squeezed.

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) is once again being pressured to vote against reform legislation. A new TV ad campaign by American Future Fund targets 18 congressional districts, including hers in northwest Pennsylvania. It’s unclear how big their buy is against Dahlkemper. The ad highlights the deals that have been cut…

March 9, 2010 at 9:57 am | Comments (1)

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)

Schroder’s still got support in ChesCo

State Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) was no longer running for Congress when the Chester County GOP met to make an endorsement in the race on Saturday. But his presence in the race was still very much felt.

About five weeks after he dropped out of the 6th District race in the wake of incumbent Jim Gerlach’s surprise decision to see reelection, Schroder still netted about a quarter of the endorsements votes cast by…

February 21, 2010 at 7:04 pm | Comments (13)

Welch withdraws from 6th District race (Updated)

KENNETT SQUARE—Republican Steven Welch abruptly dropped out of the race for Congress in the 6th District Saturday morning, allowing the GOP to avoid an expensive primary fight and dimming Democratic hopes of winning the suburban Philadelphia district.

Welch made his sudden announcement as Chester County Republicans opened their nominating convention at a banquet hall here. Having asked to address the audience of almost 400 local committee members, Welch lauded what he called the “completely open”…

February 20, 2010 at 7:05 pm | Comments (24)