Amazingly, one of the two districts that we did not file a single candidate in was Pennsylvania's 15th District, a swing district if I ever saw one. It has a solid Democratic base in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area, and is a prime opportunity. Unlike a lot of states, under Pennsylvania election law, the Democratic party can fill the vacanciess in these seats later in the year.
Enter Joe Hoeffel, a former suburban Philadelphia congressman who ran against Arlen Specter in 2004 and did quite well against him. However, his old CD is currently held by Allyson Schwartz (a fantastic Congresswoman in her own right). Hoeffel was planning to mount a challenge to the largely unpopular Lt. Governor Catherine Baker-Knoll, but at the last minute, Governor Rendell asked him to step aside for the good of the party, which he did.
So, now we have a skilled politician without a job, and a swing congressional district without a candidate.....are you thinking what I'm thinking? We've already drafted one ex-Congressman in, and the more the merrier.
Furthermore, this isn't as absurd as you think, for the reasons below:
Read More