Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

[Pirate Smile]

From MyDD

Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

by Jonathan Singer, Sat Mar 11, 2006 at 05:49:53 PM EST

Last week, rumors began to swirl surrounding the possibility that long time pro-choice activist Kate Michelman would enter the Pennsylvania Senate race as an independent, potentially making Democrat Bob Casey's challenge to GOP Sen. Rick Santorum more difficult. But as Benjamin Y. Lowe reports for The Philadelphia Enquirer, a Michelman candidacy is not to be.

Abortion-rights activist Kate Michelman won't run in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race.

Despite pressure from abortion-rights supporters, the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said she would not be an independent candidate in the November election, which will likely feature two candidates who oppose abortion: Democrat Bob Casey Jr. and incumbent Republican Rick Santorum.

"Despite profound and fundamental differences, I have decided that Pennsylvania will be better served by electing Bob Casey to the U.S. Senate than giving his opponent another term," Michelman wrote in an op-ed to be published in The Inquirer on Sunday. "I do this knowing that I may forever regret not responding one more time to the clarion call of principle."

Bob Casey is not the most exciting Democratic Senate candidate in the country this year, nor is he the most progressive, but at this point, a Democratic victory in Pennsylvania is necessary for the party to have any shot at retaking the Senate in November.

In order for the Senate intelligence panel to open real investigations into the White House's case to go to war in Iraq or the Bush administration's domestic wiretapping program, Casey pretty much needs to win this fall. If the Senate Budget Committee is going to refrain from making cuts to essential programs like foodstamps and Medicare, it's almost necessary that Casey defeats Santorum. If Senate Democrats are to have the ability to vote down extreme conservatives to the federal bench, Casey almost certainly needs to win. (Even if Casey does not support such tactics, a Democratic Senate -- and thus a Democratic Judiciary Committee -- could ensure that extremist nominees never see the light of day.)

Would Kate Michelman have added to the race? Would she have made a good Senator? The answer to both of these questions is probably yes. Nevertheless, in the interest of increasing the likelihood that the Democrats win back the United States Senate in November, it's good to see that she will not make an independent bid and help split the Democratic vote against Rick Santorum, thus helpind deliver the Senate Republican Conference Chairman another six years in Washington.


Permalink :: Comment

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/3/11/174953/491

[Coastie for Truth]

1. A Michelman candidacy would have divided the Democratic vote

and re-elected Santorum.

Yes - I am the same "Coastie" from the 14th Ward, 18th District who periodically volunteered in Ivan Itkin's District Office across from Giant Eagle at Murray Ave and Loretta Street. I know Pennsylvania Politics.

[Pirate Smile]

2. I'm very relieved. That would have been a disaster for us and a

huge gift for Ricky and the GOP.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. That's an old Richard Scaife game.

There are always dissident "Independent Democrats" who will back a "Third Party Challenge" to the Democrats (that's the way both former Pittsburgh Mayor Peter Flaherty - and, to a very slight extent, Senator Arlen Specter, both got started).

I knocked around in Pennsylvania politics for a long time

[ReadTomPaine]

4. A sweet strategy would be to posture for a 3rd party run, take the money..

from the RW spoilers, and then withdraw and put full support behind the Dem Party. That wouldn't have to happen more than once or twice before the GOP scratches that one from the playbook.

[The Magistrate]

5. You Atre A Man After My Own Heart, Sir

"That's wicked...I like it!"

[ReadTomPaine]

6. In racing there's an old adage...

"There are cheaters and there are losers"

Right now, we are the losers. I don't advocate stealing people's votes ala Diebold, but for the most part any creative interpretation of the rules that wins us an advantage I'm happy with exploring.

It's hard to win when you play straight in a fixed casino.

And a tip of the hat to you for your kind words!

[blondeatlast]

7. I like it! Single issue politicos, are you reading this? It's a damn

good way to make an impact...