05/10/2002 Archived Entry: "PA Governor"

I have liked Rendell as a candidate from early on. He comes across the tube as the guy in charge. he's also good at seeming centrist, even conservative, as a Democrat, which he isn't. But the perception is what matters, and with that perception garnering enough conservative Democrats, and moderate Republican backing him, he's likely the next Gov of PA.

A second poll came out showing Rendell with a double-digit lead over Casey (Among likely voters, Rendell's lead is even bigger, at 49-32), with some indicators as to why Rendell has surged.

Surprisingly, Rendell was the winner among gun owners by a 39 to 32 margin, and even won among those who strongly oppose more gun laws, 40 to 29 percent. Madonna said that's because no one has talked much about gun control, so voters don't know where candidates stand. "The unions and the pro-gun folks will be getting organized in the southwest for the final push, and that could help Casey," Madonna said.

With just a little over a week before the vote, it's a bit late for the candidates to let the voters know where they, and their opponents, stand on issues. What the poll points out, is that guns have not been an issue at all in the race, and it's a little to late for Casey to make them an issues. Perhaps this just points out that the poll is flawed, because if those strong in support of guns are backing the gun-control advocate Rendell, then the pro-gun Casey campaign blew a big wedge issue he had. Without his gun-control to push up his negatives amongst rural men, Rendell's charismatic, play-the-tough-guy bit, attracts the guy vote. I'd predict that Rendell wins the primary fairly easily, by above 10%.

Replies: 1 Comment

Glad to see Rendell winning this primary. I bet he takes the general too. In my opinion, it saddens me to see the last vistages of New Dealism die out. I guess I'm what you call a "Kennedy Democrat" now, no longer a "Humphrey Democrat".

Posted by Mr. Liberal @ 05/12/2002 05:27 PM PST