ELEPHANT CORNER: The Herd Stampedes To Water St Hershey

HONORED at State GOP annual Lincoln Day Dinner were Phila.'s newly elected City Republicans, seen here with GOP State Chairman Rob Gleason: Councilman David Oh, left, and Commissioner Al Schmidt.

Last weekend, the herd thundered out to Hershey to attend the Winter Meeting of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. Friday afternoon, there were candidate forums for those running for Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor General. As DIANA IREY VAUGHAN and DAVID FREED had no opposition, the forums were really interviews. STATE SEN. JOHN RAFFERTY of Montgomery Co. until recently had been interested in running for Attorney General but backed out when GOV. TOM CORBETT told him he was endorsing Freed. It also should be noted that prior to the Governor’s endorsement, Freed had the support of 21 of the state’s County District Attorneys. Freed comes from a respected clan of Elephant leaders.

Prior to PAGOP’s annual Lincoln Dinner, the Commonwealth Club held a reception for the former Governor ofMinnesota, TIM PAWLENTY, who also keynoted the dinner. The Commonwealth Club is a fundraising group for PAGOP. MIKE CIBIK, a Board member of the Commonwealth Club, could not make the meeting, but Philadelphia-area members of the club in attendance included KEVIN KELLY and DENISE FUREY. After dinner, there was a debate between the rather full field of US Senate candidates including Chester Co. businessman STEVE WELCH, Armstrong Co. businessman TOM SMITH, former STATE REP. SAM ROHRER, Philadelphia-area businessman DAVE CHRISTIAN, Harrisburg lawyer MARC SCARINGI and Washington Co. businessman TIM BURNS.

Typically PAGOP’s Saturday-morning meetings conclude by 11 a.m. However, this winter’s Saturday meeting turned into a marathon. The members debated the issue of whether to endorse a slate of candidates and then debated who would be endorsed. The PAGOP did decide to endorse. Freed and Vaughan were quickly affirmed, as they had no competitors. For Auditor General, STATE REP.JOHN MAHER beat professor and small-business owner FRANK PINTO. A few days before the meeting, Gov. Corbett endorsed Welch, who won decisively on Saturday morning. Smith came in a not-so-close second. We understand the other candidates plan to stay in the race through the primary. This Elephant believes although Rohrer has significant name recognition owing to his running in the gubernatorial primary against Corbett, the primary will come down to Welch and Smith. Welch and Smith both are wealthy men and have the ability to raise additional funds. At this point in time, this Elephant gives the edge to Welch owing to the endorsement. Also we believe he will play well in the Philadelphia suburbs owing to his articulate command of the issues.

Voting members of the PAGOP State Committee from Philadelphia include Kelly, JOE DeFELICE, MIKE MEEHAN, WALT VOGLER, CHRIS VOGLER, JIM DINTINO, AGNESTILLEY, SUZANNE COHEN, TERESA TIERNEY, PEG RECUPIDO and ANITA ZELEWSKI. The entire Philadelphia contingent voted for Welch, as did most suburban members of State Committee.

Tuesday, the Commonwealth Club held a luncheon at the Union League with CONGRESSMAN PAT MEEHAN as its keynote speaker. PAGOP CHAIRMAN ROB GLEASON was the master of ceremonies. Welch also addressed the crowd briefly. Attendees included the head of the Liquor Control Board, SKIP BRION; City COMMISSIONER AL SCHMIDT;WARD LEADER MATT WOLFE; Lower Merion Committeeman MICHAEL ADLER; New Majority Chairwoman RENEE AMOORE; Republican activist FARAH JIMENEZ; and MSNBC political comment JOE WATKINS.

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