Pennsylvania 2012: Casey's Challenge

[smoltchanov]

Well, if Burns is considered a top-class recruit - Casey can sleep good and without any serious nerve problems...

[smoltchanov]

I don't trust Welch or his reasons for changing his voter registration. And Rohrer seems to much in the mold of the Buck and Angle, and we all know how their races went. Is there anyone remotely electable even running? What about that former Santorum aide?

You consider him electable? Even remotely???

[smoltchanov]

Hopefully Welch wins this. Despite my past reservations about him, he seems like the most electable against Casey.

Well, i don't know.. I don't like flip-flopping on issues. Welch was pro-choice until relatively recent times, now he is pro-life (i know that Casey - too). Not a good behavoir, IMHO

[smoltchanov]

He can't really be labeled as a right wing extremist though, and seems quite disciplined as a candidate. You can't necessarily say the same about Smith and Rohrer.

Here i fully agree. They are substantially more right wing..

[smoltchanov]

I've heard many things about Welch. I've never heard that he was Pro Choice. Are you sure you aren't just saying that because he seems to fit the bill (SE PA Republican supported by the establishment, not the most conservative candidate in the race, left the party at one point, etc.).

Yes, i am sure. Not ready to present a link right now, but sure that i read it (being located in Moscow i am, naturally, "Internet-based"). Most likely - on SSP when he (Welch) intended to run for Gerlach seat, when Gerlach himself intended to run for governor

P.S. One off-topic question to you as an expert on Pennsylvania politics. With my strong love for "mavericks" and "really big tent" - most interesting politicians for me in Republican party tend to be as moderate (or even, gosh, a liberal) as possible. In Democratic - vice versa. Can you "recommend" somebody from Pennsylvania for me to follow their career?))))). I don't expect anyone like Jacob Javits or Larry McDonald, but still - ....

[smoltchanov]

Well, it might not have been from a reputable source because he has yet to be hit on his views on abortion and, believe me, they aren't holding back their attacks on Welch.

As for a maverick from PA, I'm sure Specter or Casey, Sr. are the most interesting. Or are you looking for someone currently in office?

May be. But he doesn't seems too stringently pro-life either..

Well i know Specter's career since his days as DA in Philadelphia. And i remember Casey Sr. since his governor days. Somebody from, say, state Legislature, would suffice me))). But - as maverick (liberal for Republican, conservative for Democrat) as possible please))

[smoltchanov]

Richard Schweiker was a moderate to liberal Republican U.S. Senator during the 1970s. You may recognize the name because Reagan tapped him as his running mate ahead of the 1976 convention for ideological and geographical balance and as an attempt to win over PA's delegates.

If you want someone from the state legislature, look into former State Representative John Lawless from Montgomery county. He switched his party several times and ran for Lt. Governor as a Dem in 2002. Also, former Auditor General and State Treasurer Barbara Hafer would be up your alley. She was a Dem then became a Republican elected official (but was always more moderate to liberal) then switched back to the Dems in 2003. She was the frontrunner to take on Santorum in 2006 before Casey was recruited. She was the GOP nominee for Governor against Casey, Sr. in 1990 and lost in one of the biggest landslides in PA history (she only won Montgomery county and her margin of victory was miniscule. This was at the time when the Montco GOP won everything. Reagan refered to it as the best county GOP organization in the country). That was a great race because you had two individuals that didn't fit their respective parties that well. Hafer wanted to run for Governor again in 2002 but claims she was forced out by party leaders for then Attorney General (and now federal judge) Mike Fisher. That helped push her out of the party.

Thanks. Of course - i remember Schweiker. He, BTW, became more conservative after being selected for VP by Reagan...

Thanks for your suggestions. And from present-day Legislature? Milne? McIlhinney? Conklin? Greenleaf? Somebody else?

[smoltchanov]

Wow. You seem to know a decent amount already if you can spout their names like that. I don't think Milne is liberal (though I read yesterday about his connections to the teachers union) but McIlhinney and Greenleaf (who actually ran for President this year in New Hampshire to "prove a point" but had many of his fans scratching their heads) are worth a look.

Thanks, Phil!

[smoltchanov]

Smith can't win against Casey though. And why isn't Welch on the air anymore in Philly?

It's not likely that Welch would win either, but, at least, it would be better attempt..

[smoltchanov]

Dude, in all honesty, did you think we were favored to beat Casey with anyone else? I mean, I guess your point is that this guarantees it but it was always a steep uphill battle.

You probably needed Tom Ridge for that)) And even in that case - 50/50..

[smoltchanov]

A small commentary to your signature, bullmoose88:

You really do. 30-40 years ago there was a plenty of moderate and even liberal Republicans, just as their opposites - really conservative Democrats. Now American politics became hyperpolarized, bland and dull (with some rare exceptions): in 98% of all cases you may almost perfectly describe candidate's political positions simply by looking at letter after his name.. Boring...