POLS ON THE STREET: Back to Obama’s Playbook in Philly

by Joe Shaheeli

HILLARY CLINTON is introduced to a cheering throng at W. Phila. HS by Congressman and Democratic Party chairman Bob Brady. Clinton was here to spike voter registrations and turnout. Photo by Wendell Douglas

To win Pennsylvania in the Presidential election this Nov. 8, the campaign team of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has been renewing contacts with the Democratic leaders of this city who can bring out the numbers their candidate needs to take Pennsylvania.

There is little doubt that as Philly goes, so goes Pennsy. No matter how well Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump performs with voters in the diehard Republican T of the State, the Philly vote – and, to a lesser extent, the Pittsburgh vote as well – usually tilts the state into the Democratic column.

That is why, by the time election eve draws nigh, Hillary will have scoured Philly so well, she will be able to call many of her supporters by name. She has already combed this city with Comcast’s David Cohen and with various union leaders to ensure her campaign has the kind of juice to enable her people to fuel their own campaign force.

Democratic committee people will be startled, then annoyed, and then possibly pleased to find a host of neighborhood people or strangers at their polls election morning carrying Hillary hats, wearing Hillary T-shirts and passing out Hillary campaign circulars.

This reminds me to caution her campaign team not to make the mistake of not properly funding the best get-out-the-vote team led by Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.), leader of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee. Wasting funds on outsiders to sell the Hillary Clinton for President campaign on Election Day will produce marginal results at best. They need to put their money to good use by handing it Party Chair Brady, who made it possible for President Bill Clinton to win one squeaker for the top office.

TAKING an evening stroll around North Philly neighborhoods was District Attorney Seth Williams during his Community Safety Walk, in an attempt to spread vital information to the community. Coming along for the walk were community activists and religious leaders from Deliverance Evangelistic Church. The walk started at the church and went down the west side of Lehigh Avenue. Photo by Eldon Graham

When Brady walked into the Democratic Congressional Caucus for a meeting shortly after that election, his achievement was well appreciated by his peers. They stood up and gave him resounding applause.

That is why Hillary Clinton was in town, hosted by the Democratic State Committee on fertile ground: West Philadelphia High School. She was there to exhort supporters to get out the vote with a massive registration drive, hoping to set a record before the Oct. 11 deadline.

She and Vice President Joe Biden toured Scranton in an attempt to keep the region’s voters from siding with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Trump, joined by his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, made a swing through Scranton in July, while the Democratic National Convention was going on in Philadelphia, and spoke about a host of issues – including the economy – to a more-than-filled Lackawanna College Student Union gymnasium (with a capacity of 4,000).

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-W. Phila.), chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and the PLBC membership understands her role is urging everyone voting in the November election to report any possible intimidation tactics to the authorities.

The PLBC has responded to Trump’s comment telling his supporters to go and “watch the polls.”
Brown said that calling for people to stand at the polls raises concerns about possible voter intimidation. That’s a line that will resonate with many Philadelphia Democrats – even if no voter intimidation is actually taking place here.

“It is dangerous when a presidential candidate preemptively accuses voters of fraud and urges his supporters to go to the polls to watch voters,” Brown said. “Everyone who is eligible should be able to vote without having to worry about people watching over them. This type of rhetoric has no place in our political elections.”

Brown said that all voters, regardless of party, should contact their county board of elections, district attorney’s office if they encounter any acts of harassment, intimidation or voter suppression at the polls.

Kane Fallout Is No Earthquake

Democratic Candidate for Attorney General Josh Shapiro summed it up when Kane’s guilty verdict by a jury of her peers was announced with these words:

WELCOMING Councilman Bobby Henon to Breakfast at Keenan’s in his honor were hostesses retired Sheriff Barbara Deeley, left, and City Commissioner Lisa Deeley, right. With Councilman are his sons Zachary and Matthew.

“This is another sad chapter for our commonwealth and a reminder of how hard we need to work together in Pennsylvania to restore the public trust in our democracy. Given the verdict, I believe the Attorney General should resign.

“We should remember that the real victims of these scandals are the people of Pennsylvania who’ve been left behind by a government that often isn’t working for them,” he continued. “We need to restore integrity to our justice system so that the people’s business – protecting consumers, fighting the heroin epidemic, and keeping our communities safe – comes first.”
We call it the end of a tempest in the political teapot.

Who Would’ve Thought Katie Could Pass Toomey?

Katie McGinty, who was rated earlier in this campaign by her Democratic supporters as facing an uphill battle, now finds she is ahead of US Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). Three polls last week gave her the edge.

Primary opponent Mayor John Fetterman has given Katie his “full-throated endorsement” and joined her in discussing the devastating impacts of the 2008 financial crash on Pennsylvania communities and the urgent need to prevent another such disaster last week. He also was among the 30-plus Pennsylvania leaders, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, who signed on to an open letter endorsing Katie’s proposal.

For now, it seems Toomey knows Trump’s coattails have gotten shorter, meaning he needs to stay low. But all that could change.

Pennsylvania MoveOn Members Get Polled

JOINING up with Councilman Mark Squilla at Kennan’s in Wildwood for his fundraiser were neighborhood pals Chris McCuen, Danny Sullivan, Sonny Howlett, the Councilman and his wife Brigid.

Should MoveOn endorse a candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania? That’s what their head honchos were asking on line.

The vote was to end this past Tuesday.

Whoever needs to know the answer hasn’t been in or near their enclave. Of course, it’s Katie McGinty.

You must be a resident of Pennsylvania and a MoveOn member to participate. We’re thankful not to have been asked to cast a vote. We have enough trouble now trying to stay awake for this election.

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