The Lamp Lighter

©The Evening Bulletin 2008

Delco Deal With Sestak?

Rumors have been swirling that Delaware County Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak has his eye on Sen. Arlen Specter’s seat in 2010. Of course, he still has to win re-election this fall, not an easy task for the freshmen legislator representing a Republican district.

Or is it?

According to the latest FEC reports, Mr. Sestak has raised $2.4 million. His opponent, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Williams, has banked a paltry $134,000.

If there is any hope for the GOP to win the seat back, it must do so this November. So where is the vaunted Delco GOP political machine? Why isn’t it flexing its fundraising and organizational muscle?

Consider this possibility:

It has already cut a deal with Sestak or is about to do so, which would complete the downward spiral of the once legendary GOP county organization. In any case, it is increasingly apparent that the McNichol-Sexton era is coming to a screeching, and catastrophic, end.

A Different Story In Bucks

What a difference a county makes. Delaware County, still Republican, puts up a sacrificial lamb against a freshman Democrat. Bucks, on the other hand, is throwing everything it has into defeating its frosh Congressman, Patrick Murphy, despite the fact that the county is now Democratic in registration. Republican challenger Col. Tom Manion has raised a staggering $422,000 to date, more than respectable at this stage in the game. He is a serious candidate with a serious chance.

Makes the rumor of a “Delco deal” not sound so “conspiratorial” after all.

Nobody Home In Montco

Of course, if there is a silver lining for Craig Williams, it’s that he’s not Marina Kats, the GOP candidate taking on Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz. Ms. Kats has raised $5,600, good enough for a 1:347 ratio to Ms. Schwartz. But you can’t entirely blame Marina. After all, the Montco Republican Party is still in disarray as a result of the ongoing Matthews-Castor feud. What do you expect?

Will Ms. Kats reach five figures in her campaign war chest by November? The jury is still out.

Toomey For Gov?

Recently seen at the Pennsylvania Leadership Council annual meeting: “Toomey for Governor” bumper stickers, in the same color scheme as that used in his 2004 Senate run. Makes sense. It doesn’t take a genius to see that vying for an open seat with no contribution limit is a better bet than taking on a 30-year incumbent with a $2,300 donation threshold.

There goes John Perzel’s shutout.

One Less Coward

State Rep. Steven Cappelli (R-Williamsport) got crushed in his recent bid for the state Senate. Too bad. After all, with Vince Fumo out of the picture, a new pin-up boy for tawdry political entertainment is needed.

Remember, this is the same “pro-gun” legislator who characterized Philadelphia’s murder epidemic as “cultural genocide” - a correct assessment - on national television. But after taking some flak from the clueless Black Caucus, he completely reversed his position and became an advocate for their anti-gun legislative initiatives. Kudos to the people of the 23rd Senate district for rejecting a charter member of the Cowards Hall of Shame.