POLS ON THE STREET: Battle for Pennsylvania Will Be Fought Here

by Joe Shaheeli

Hillary Clinton stops in Harrisburg following her first in Philly at Temple University, the day after the DNC crowned her, were followed by an appearance by Donald Trump in Mechanicsburg. These campaign moves are an early sign both understand Pennsylvania is now rated by pollsters as a swing state.

The Clinton campaign knows the value of the Philadelphia vote. If it comes out heavy, Pennsylvania can be tilted into giving its electoral vote count of 20 to Hillary.

There is little doubt Trump will take a lot of the votes in parts of Northern and Southwestern Pennsylvania where people are dependent on continued energy growth for their living. Dilapidated small mill towns in the hinterland, which have seen a generational loss of industry, are natural targets for Trump’s message.

The big question for the Trump campaign is if he should put in one or more Philly appearances. What his strategists are deliberating is: Though they know he has the ability to bring out a larger Republican vote, including GOP-leaning Democratic voters, would his appearance invigorate a higher turnout response in the city’s dominant African American community? Democratic political leadership, under Party Chairman Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.), is already working on doing just that. If the answer is yes, we will see little, if anything, of Donald Trump on the campaign trail here in town. If they feel support exists in the Black community in this town in sufficient numbers, and he visits, bet your dollar his pollsters will feel he can easily make the gamble.

Shut Trump up or Lose An Election Campaign

Republicans in this city and around the state are experiencing anxiety with each passing day as their presidential candidate Donald Trump insists on placing trump cards in the hands of his opponent Hillary Clinton.

It’s becoming an expected way of life for them as Trump comments on individuals or happenings for which he had no reason to make. His latest foe, Khizr Khan, is the parent of a captain who died in the service of his country. Khan turned out to be a time bomb, devastating to The Donald. His tirade against Trump at the Democratic National Convention has become a classic and gone viral with major media. Democratic State Chairman Marcel Groen summed it up, saying, “In my 45 years in politics, I’ve never seen such a despicable reaction by anyone, regardless of party, to a Gold Star Family. Trump’s attack is beyond the pale and dishonors every family who has lost a child in combat. Trump’s words are an embarrassment to the Republican Party, and any Republican who does not repudiate Trump’s remarks is complicit in his offense.”

If Trump hopes to make up the ground he lost to Clinton, his campaign advisors need to tell him to keep his mouth shut more often than he has it open.

As of the end of this week, four major polls show Clinton leading Trump from 3 to 8 points.

Which leads us to another campaigner whose team doesn’t get it. Every time a political fundraiser is held in this town, Public Record photographers and reporters arrive to give its guest of honor some free play in the paper, with pictures of guests and the candidate smiling brightly for our readers.

In the case we are discussing, the campaign sends us releases of the candidate’s fundraisers and comments on everything affecting the campaign and the opponent. So why send us the info and then bar us from the fundraisers?

Let us know who you think it is either by emailing us to editor@phillyrecord.com or by calling (215) 755-2000.

COUNCILMAN David Oh, left, hosted GOP Forum attended by Col. Timothy Williams; Commissioner Joseph C. Gale, CFO, US Labor Dept.; Samuel Mok; Commissioner Dennis C. Zappone; President of Republican Voters League Malik Boyd; and GOP State Rep candidate Anthony Scalfaro. Photo by Asmahan Luke

Trump Money Lost Will Go to Toomey

A big question followed by pundits for months has been whether Trump at the top of the ticket will hurt incumbent Republican congressional candidates in blue states – states like ours, for instance, where US Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is running for re-election.

Of course, if Trump remains as popular in Pennsylvania as some polls have shown, the Keystone State becomes a true swing state. In that case, Trump may help Toomey as much as hurt him.

But even if Pennsylvania voters sour on Trump, the tycoon is guaranteed to help Toomey indirectly – by diverting money from other tycoons into Toomey’s pocket.

Billionaire industrialists and small-government enthusiasts Charles and David Koch, who have spent massively on Republican candidates for decades, usually include Republican presidential nominees in their largesse. Not this year, though. Instead, they have announced they would divert their normal presidential dispensation entirely to endangered Republican incumbents in Washington.

Toomey is high on their list.

CELEBRATING Nelson Mandela International Day in Phila. at the Enterprise Center were Rose Brown, international vocalist; Stanley Slaughter, former Chairman of the Mayor’s Commission on African-Caribbean Immigrant Affairs; Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell; Youma Ba, chairperson of Echoes of Africa; and State Senate candidate Sharif Street.
Photo by Joe Stivala

Sid Booker Hosts Next Big Event

This city’s next big political event is the annual by-invitation-only held by Shrimp King Sid Booker at his annual Bar-B-Q & Shrimp Pool Party at his home on Aug. 14. It starts at 2 p.m.

Expected to show up are a host of statewide and local Democratic candidates. Sid’s  2016 Humanitarian Honorees are Mayor Jim Kenney, State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.), Sheriff Jewell Williams and Police Commissioner Richard Ross. The 2016 lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to former Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson.

Jared Solomon Should Talk to Mark Cohen

John Dough-erty welcomes Katie McGinty to the IBEW breakfast session, featuring Mark Segal and his new book.

Jared Solomon has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania League of Conservation Voters for the upcoming general election on Nov. 8. For 40 years, the LCV has been the dominant environmentally progressive group.

Solomon became the official Democratic nominee for State Representative of Pennsylvania’s 202nd Legislative Dist. on April 26 after defeating 42-year incumbent State Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Northeast). He is running unopposed in the general election which will take place on Nov. 8.

We suggest, since he has no opponent, why is he so obsessed with underlining his positions? We like you, Jared. But you could get more-profitable ink if you sat and worked out your differences with your predecessor, whose record is strongly progressive. While your constituents did select a new face, they will be hoping for continuity in policies.

Organized Labor Unions Hosted DNC Delegates

Philadelphia is truly a union town, and its major unions know how to be gracious hosts and to involve themselves on all levels to ensure both residents and guests enjoy major events.

The Democratic National Convention four-day meeting here proved this beyond a doubt as every union involved in the makeover of the Wells Fargo Center from a sports arena into a political arena created a spectacular stage for delegates.

   Send article as PDF