POLS ON THE STREET: Corbett Still Confident In Governor’s Race; McCaffery Wise To Step Down

COUNCILMAN Curtis Jones and Miracle Matthew’s Champions Foundation CEO Leslie Miles sponsored and hosted Tribute to Local Boxing Heroes and former Champion Matthew Saad Muhammad at Church of the Advocate.

BY JOE SHAHEELI/ Gov. Tom Corbett says he’s feeling good. He doesn’t believe the public polls. “If I were down by the published poll spreads, why would they let Bill Clinton campaign in Pittsburgh and Barack Obama in Philadelphia for Tom Wolf ?” he noted acidly.

Corbett continued, “We’re very comfortable with where we are right now,” he said today. “You remember, I haven’t ever been predicted to win any race. I’m in my — two, three, four — fifth race, if I count my township commissioner. Every time: ‘He can’t win.’ Yet I’m standing here in front of you as Governor.”

But the poll numbers remain constant in favor of Democratic gubernatorial challenger Tom Wolf.

State Republicans are concentrating on winning additional House and Senate seats in the General Assembly and keeping control of both chambers. Their advertising formats now emphasize local races.

McCAFFERY WISELY RESIGNS S.C. SEAT

DARRELL Clarke, left, at crowded Union League fundraiser was pleased to meet up with old friends and allies: engineer Tom Caramanico and insider attorney Jim Crumlish.

Seamus McCaffery, a former Philadelphia police officer elected in 2007 to the state’s highest court, has retired, a week after four of his fellow justices voted to suspend him from the bench.

McCaffery, 64, had been in a long feud with Chief Justice Ron Castille. McCaffery’s old foe is himself soon to be gone; castile reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Dec. 31.
Rather than chance losing out in a defense against the action – and losing his pension, McCaffery wisely opted out to keep a pension rumored around $10,000 monthly.

Look for a mad rush for that seat, with union and Ward Leader John Dougherty using his political prowess to win the Democratic nomination for his brother Administrative Judge Kevin Dougherty.

TOP OF THE TICKET flew their colors at Union League for high-powered fundraiser. Northeast Committeeman Tom Johnson, left, and Larry Jacobs, right, were thrilled to be seen Democrats’ VG and gubernatorial aspirants Mike Stack and Tom Wolf.

COMMISSIONERS’ RACE WILL BE HOT ONE

The announcement of the creation of the Deeley PAC, chaired by former Philadelphia Sheriff Barbara Deeley, signals the beginning of an effort to unseat Commissioner Stephanie Singer.

The retired Sheriff hopes to convince her daughter Lisa, to seek that office and believes, “Singer is an extremely vulnerable target.” Lisa has not made a decision.

The Deeley PAC holds its first fundraiser Nov. 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Saloon, 750 S. 7th Street. Contributions $250 friends, $500 sponsors.

LATINO CARAVAN SOUNDS HORNS THIS SATURDAY

Latinos United for Political Empowerment will sponsor a caravan tour throughout its population area with State Sen. Tina Tartaglione and State Rep. Angel Cruz and legislative candidate Leslie Acosta (all D- Kensington) in the lead cars this Saturday, followed by Ward Leaders Carlos Matos and Emilio Vázquez.
The caravan, report coordinators Victor Negrón and Jose Giral, will leave from American & Lehigh at noon and travel through the area to “make voters aware of need to vote Nov. 4.”

SCOTT CUMMINGS, MAYFAIR LEADER, DIES

Mayfair leader, Joseph DeFelice, Esq., executive director of City Republican Committee, announced the death of former Ward Leader Scott Cummings.

“We regret to inform you of the passing of Scott Cummings,” DeFelice stated. “Scott was a proud Mayfairian who previously served as President of the Mayfair Civic Association and the 15th District Police District Advisory Council amongst other area endeavors. Scott leaves behind his ex-wife Vicki and 4 children (Lindsay, Cody, John Scott and Logan). Services will be private. If we get any more details we will post them. Scott cared deeply about his family and his City and will truly be missed.

“Scott also served as former leader of the 62nd Ward and was past candidate for City Council and Traffic Court. he previously served as a body guard for Henry Kissinger and Donald Trump as well as director of security for the Philadelphia Parking Authority and as a coach at the Holy Terrors youth organization.”

PROGRESSIVES ENDORSE THESE PHILADELPHIANS

STATE REP. John Taylor welcomes Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, who gave crowd rip-roaring get-out-vote speech. Phila. Republicans held their pre-election gathering at Romano’s Catering in Juniata Park.

Michael Morrill’s Keystone Progress PAC has endorsed the following General Assembly members from Philadelphia.
In the State Senate: Christine Tartaglione (D-Kensington).
In the State House: Rep. Mike O’Brien (D-Kensington), Rep. Brian Sims (D-S. Phila.), Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D-Northwest), and Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Northeast).

WOULD YOU BELIEVE POLLS CAN BE WRONG?

Website HuffPollster’s Mark Blumenthal and Ariel Edwards-Levy claim this year’s polling could be wrong.
HuffPost’s poll-tracking model has given Republicans slightly better than a 50/50 probability of winning a majority in the US Senate, largely on the basis of leads of 3% or less by Republican candidates in critical states like Iowa, Colorado and Arkansas. HuffPollster noted the real potential for late shifts or polling errors of the same magnitude – a possibility that explains why considerable uncertainty remains about our current forecast of a Republican takeover.
RealClearPolitics has an analysis showing polling leads of 1 to 2 percentage points in the final three weeks of the election translate into victory just over 60% of the time. Even candidates with leads of 3 to 4 percentage points sometimes end up behind on Election Day.
Interesting fact to know in assessing close elections.

WHERE IS STATE S.C. IN CLAY CHALLENGE?

OVERFLOW crowd of Councilman Mark Squilla fans showed up at McFadden’s by Citizens Bank Park, to honor years of energetic accomplishments by Squilla. Cheering him on to more years of same are Sharif Street, Esq.; Squilla; Steve Lauer; Ann Kelly; Mark Rago; and Murray Costin, 39/23 committeeman. Photo by Joe Stivala

Jason Dawkins’ 37-vote victory over State Rep. James Clay in the 179th legislative Democratic primary has Clay’s challenge waiting to be heard by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices should they decide to quit slinging mud at each other and tend to business. Clay has gotten a docket number from that court for serious challenges he appealed to that court. But no date has been given.

If Clay’s Court Challenge were upheld, another question arises. Will Clay’s charges result in the Court’s ruling Dawkins has lost his right to have run in the primary due to failure in filing financial reports? If so, his name gets blocked over in the voting machines which begin to roll out to polling places next week.

In either event, Clay is out. If Jason is out as well, look for a special election in spring primary with both going at it again, but this time with more company from potential challengers.

N.E. DEMOCRATIC Ward Leaders caucused at Ashburner Inn earlier in week to emphasis weekend get-out-vote effort. Also in photo are legislative candidates including State Sen. Tina Tartaglione and Lieutenant Governor candidate Mike Stack.

AS IF WE DIDN’T KNOW, ISAIAH THOMAS RETURNS

For three years, ever since the last primary for City Council, Isaiah Thomas has kept up a presence on the internet through news releases of events he was sponsoring.

Now comes the announcement he will enter the race for City Council at Large one more time. He makes it official Nov. 18. He believes he will be able to top the 31,000 votes he got last time.

CAN WOLF CHANGE THE STATE SENATE?

Does Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf, favored for some time in various polls, have the coattails necessary to bring in with him several Senate seats, enough to change the 27-23 edge now held by the GOP?

The GOP feels it’ll hold that chamber regardless of the results of the Governor’s race.

Louis Jacobson of Governing magazine, in his evaluation says Democratic hopes are a bit too high. He describes the Pennsylvania State Senate as “Projected Likely R.”

“Republican Tom Corbett is the most vulnerable incumbent Governor in the country, but the GOP’s edge in the legislature seems reasonably solid,” Jacobson writes. “In the Senate, the Democrats would only need to flip three seats to take control of a chamber the GOP has long held, but the lineup of seats being contested is favorable to the Republicans.”

He also gave the same “Projected Likely R” rating to the State House, where the GOP currently enjoys a 111-92 seat majority.

“Meanwhile, in the House, the margin is wider, giving Republicans some room for error,” Jacobson concludes. “If Corbett’s reelection bid begins to be a down-ballot drag for the GOP, one or both of these chambers could shift to vulnerable. But there’s no sign of that yet.”

ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT FOR BOYLE IN 13TH DIST.

The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund announced its endorsement of Brendan Boyle for Congress in the 13th Dist. It calls Boyle an environmental leader who will fight for action on climate change and protect Pennsylvania’s important natural habitats.

“Brendan Boyle is well equipped to build coalitions and find commonsense solutions that will reduce our nation’s reliance on the dirty fossil fuels that cause climate change,” said LCV Action Fund President Gene Karpinski. “His impressive environmental record in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives makes him a crucial environmental ally who will undoubtedly be a strong voice for Pennsylvania’s prized natural landscapes.”

“Pennsylvanians can trust Brendan Boyle to keep our air, land and water safe,” said Josh McNeil, executive director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “Rep. Boyle has consistently voted to protect our environment in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and he will continue to fight for a cleaner commonwealth as a Member of Congress.”

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