Huge news in PA, Barbara Hafer switches party, could defeat Santorum

[59millionmorons]

In a move widely anticipated ever since she crossed party lines to endorse Ed Rendell for governor, state Treasurer Barbara Hafer announced yesterday she had switched her affiliation to the Democratic Party.

This is huge, With Rendell helping Hafer, we have a great chance of defeating Santorum and Spector. Hafer is widely popular in this state and Rendell can get the voters out in the Pittsburgh and Philly area and in PA that is all you need to win. Toomey who is challenging Spector is far right in a state that is becoming solidly left. If Toomey wins against Spector, then Joe Hoeffel can beat him. Hoeffel cannot beat Spector.

[Township75]

1. Do you live in PA?

First off, one needs more than Pitt and Philthy to win PA. The population of the center of the state offsets all of the Philly vote, and some of the Pitt vote. The northeast and northwest decide the election, based upon whom they vote for.

Secondly, what makes you think this state has become solidly left? Dems have been getting their asses handed to them in that state for a while. Just because Ed won the gov against a very weak repub opponent doesn't mean this state is solid left. In fact, the tax increase he just passed probably will not help him in the next election unless the PA economy turns around.

Also, Hafer was once a Dem, then swithced to be a Repub, and now she is a Dem again...to me that makes her sound more like an opportunist than a progressive. That party hopping could make her weak next time she chooses to run.

[Bunny]

2. Well, I live in PA.

Hafer was a Dem once, but she switched to Repub in 1975, 28 yrs. ago. She is now a Dem again. I don't think I'd call it opportunistic party hopping to switch after 28 yrs.

You are right about Ed's recent tax increase. Unless the economy improves, or Ed is able to enact some kind of property tax relief, the Dems could have problems in 04.

[October]

4. I live in PA

First off, we don't refer to our big cities as Philthy and Pitt.

And, just FYI, PA goes Democratic in national elections.

[59millionmorons]

8. Sure do

PA has voted in the last three elections for Dems. Maybe you should try looking at the election results over the last few decades. If you win Philly and Pitt you win PA period. Gore only won 18 of 67 counties in 2000 and won the state. Facts are a horrible thing. The biggest counties all went to Gore(Allegheny,Buscks, Philly, Delaware, Montgomery) Heck Philly has more voters than all of the middle counties. Like Carville says you win Philly and Pitt area you win PA period. PA is like NY on the east, CA on the west with Kentucky in the middle. And thats how Dems win PA when they put up a quality candidate.

Philadelphia County

Candidate Votes


BUSH, GEORGE W. (REP) 100,959


GORE, AL (DEM) 449,182


PHILLIPS, HOWARD (CST) 1,032


BROWNE, HARRY (LIB) 979


NADER, RALPH (GRN) 8,206


BUCHANAN, PATRICK J. (REF) 822








http://web.dos.state.pa.us/perl/elections/elec_results/dsf/county2.cgi?eyear=2000&etype=G&office=USP

[creativelcro]

3. Oh my god! This is great!!

That asshole won't be smiling when he gets kicked out of there....

[randr]

5. The movement gathers momentum

We will be seeing more and more of this if we keep our attention on the matters that matter most to Americans. The repugs have painted themselves into a corner on every issue.

[xchrom]

6. my whole year would be made

if santorum got a pink slip from the people of pa.
he is my personal fav when it comes to seeing repukes in the senate i wanna see gone.

[bleedingheart]

7. For years it has seemed that Barbara was getting a bit disenchanted

with the Repub party in this state..

She really beat up the republican Jim Roddey about how he was a poor steward for Allegheny county in that race as well...

Personally I would like to see Allen Kukovich run against Santorum, he is a lifelong Dem who has been both a state rep and is currently a great state senator.

[funkyflathead]

9. Isn't Hoeffel the guy who wanted to ban muzzleloaders this year?

Well he'd better win Philthy and Steeltown cause he ain't gonna win the center of the state with his tirade against cap and ball revolvers.

[srpantalonas]

10. Hafer:political opportunist, not a liberal

Don't count on her getting core party support. She'll have to claw her way through a crowded field to win the primary. She is spreading money around like a Chicago party boss, though...