by Joe Shaheeli
Public perception of the Democratic gubernatorial primary race will soon boil down to the point where voters will not be able to tell the candidates apart when it comes to their programming. But both sides in the Democratic Primary don't see it that way.
Yet, that's the way voters are beginning to assess their campaigns.
Both have announced plans to jump start lagging local economies, reach out to the unemployed, revitalize public schools, and push for early education and childcare.
Auditor General Bob Casey has a plan to create jobs by investing in Pennsylvania's communities. Former Mayor Ed Rendell, early on, detailed his plan to create jobs by investing in Pennsylvania communities.
Both have gone to the Internet to get their messages out.
Rendell is pushing for a growing greener program, and so is Casey.Routres are different, but the goals are the same.
By the time primary day rolls around, if programming from both campaigns continues as it has been, the adage will hold true "neither's discovered something new under the sun".
The voters, in any event, will be getting their buck's worth of solid and do-able pledges from both candidates.
However, where it counts, with street organizations in the hamlets, boroughs, townships, and cities of this great Commonwealth, the battle is fierce. There are no definite lines. Each has his own style. To both, no neighborhood, community, township, borough, et al is being conceded to the other side.
The Unions have cut to the chase. Their choices are imbedded in cement. It's basically the Building Trades with Rendell and most of the others with Casey. Those are the most rigid lines drawn in this campaign.
Where the battle continues to be waged off the radar screens of the average voter and local media is among the county and city political organizations.
Casey last week reported he had received the overwhelming endorsement of the Washington County Democratic Committee. Its chairman, Roni Luci, said the Casey endorsement received "a clear super majority" of the 130 members in attendance. He credited Casey's Patient Protection plan and his call to raise the minimum wage as issues with which Washington County people identify.
However, this Tuesday, Rendell checkmated Casey in this area with a ringing endorsement form Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy.
Murphy held a press conference at the City-County Building "I have known Ed for more than 10 years and in his role as chairman of the Pennsylvania Conference of Mayors. He has been a great help to Pittsburgh. I have thoroughly discussed with him our growth agenda for the Pittsburgh region and am convinced he is the right choice to help us as Governor."
Murphy, who has spurred the revitalization of his city ended a long period of decline when he took office. He has brought more than $4 billon in new investment into the city, begun refurbishing city neighborhoods through his Neighborhood Needs Program and has led the nation in the clean up and redevelopment of brownfield sites, turning some of them into "extraordinary residential communities" was elected to his third term last November. He has a strong hold on the election vote gathering machinery in his town.
Casey has set up headquarters in Philadelphia buoyed by an early commitment from at least 23 of the County's Democratic Party's 69 ward leaders. His strategists consider it essential he spend more time in Philadelphia.
He will be host at a Grip and Grin meeting held by Young America POAC at the Racquet Club on March 7 at 6 p.m.. and will be in the St. Patty's Day Parade later in the month.
A major cleavage in their effort has been to divide along the pro-life, pro-abortion line. That's another which is rooted in deep cement, but will surface and come to the front burner as poll numbers narrow. Both sides will be working to get out their respective supporters.
Rendell picked up the endorsement of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. Pro-lifers are expected to be very active in this campaign.
In the polls, that count for publicity and fund raising, Rendell reported he had moved ahead of Casey by nine points as of mid February.
Both candidates are not shy about meeting together in debate forums. Rendell is waxing "vintage Rendell". Casey is shaping up as an effective orator, a far cry from his first appearance with Rendell at Democratic State Committee.
It's going to be a close race. There will be enough money around to insure that fact. In the end, what will count most is the voter turnouts in the territories each will claim as his when the polls open election morning.