Notice who Diamond's running mate for Lieutenabt Governor is? Tom Lingenfelter. A real piece of work.
Posted on 04/12/2006 11:44:33 PM PDT by neverdem
ALTOONA, Pa., April 11 — In what was already proving a surprisingly tight contest, the race for governor of Pennsylvania has grown more complicated with the entry of an independent candidate who helped spearhead a grass-roots insurgency last year against the state legislature.
The development is the latest twist in a campaign where the Democratic incumbent, Edward G. Rendell, once considered a shoo-in for re-election, has been polling neck and neck with his Republican challenger, the former football star Lynn Swann, a political newcomer.
The latest arrival in the race is Russ Diamond, a businessman who last July founded PACleanSweep, a political action committee born of voter outrage after legislators approved a controversial raise for themselves.
"Pennsylvania is a ship that is off course, and the way to get it back on course is from the captain's chair," Mr. Diamond said in making his candidacy public during an interview here Tuesday. "That means it's time for us to take the governor's office."
Mr. Diamond's run will most likely increase attention on what he describes as a lack of transparency and a prevalence of special interests in Harrisburg, the state capital.
As for Mr. Swann, his campaign has focused on tort reform, easing small-business taxes and improving schools. And Mr. Rendell, who won the governorship in 2002 by a margin of nearly 10 points, is credited with increasing financing for early childhood development programs and ushering in legislation permitting slot machines throughout Pennsylvania, a program that is close to starting up and is expected to produce state revenue of $1 billion a year.
"This is a governor who has delivered on virtually every one of his major campaign promises, so no one expected him to be in such a tight sprint right now," said G. Terry Madonna, professor of public affairs...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Probably recruited by the Weasels to split the conservative vote.
Oh no.
Lying weasel Ed Rendell will be on Peter Paul's witness list in Paul v. Clinton.
Good news!
Swannee will crush cubic zirCONia, and Ed Swindel.
:Sounds like this guy is Ross Perot's mini-me."
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It sure does. It looks like the Dems were afraid of losing,
"Democratic incumbent, Edward G. Rendell, once considered a shoo-in for re-election, has been polling neck and neck with his Republican challenger,"
so they get this guy to run and syphon off votes of those who otherwise would vote for the Republican.
It worked for Clinton, so why not reuse a winning strategy.
I don't live in PA. Swann looks good. Rendell is the epitome of a weasel. I'm afraid about how's this going to affect Santorum's race.
I am a Pennsylvania voter and I don't think it will affect Santorum, but I believe it may affect Swann. Although, I don't know much about this new entry, but from the sounds of the posters, he sounds like a conservative which would be great. We need a conservative governor in Pennsylvania. Swann seems conservative, but a true conservative would even be better.
Notice who Diamond's running mate for Lieutenabt Governor is? Tom Lingenfelter. A real piece of work.
That was exactly my first thought too. This is typcially what happens when Libertarians run. Of course, Pubbies have benefitted at the national level with Nader, but this really stinks if it ends up costing Swann the governorship.
SPOILER? Libertarian Candidate Russ Diamond Qualifies for Paterno/Holden Race
Diamond and Lingenfelter are gadflies - - peas in a pod.
I doubt we're talking 1%, and no significant effect on the governor's race.
It appears that Diamond is not running as a Libertarian this time.
I wonder why?
Then he won't hurt Swann?
I don't believe so, not at all.
These "reformers" tend to hurt incumbents.
Ah yes. You're right.
Thanks for reminding me!
The same thing happened when we ended up with Nepalitano as our Gov. in AZ. A "reformer" ran by the name of Mahoney, he took just enough votes from the conservative to give the liberals a small victory...which took a week to count, it was so close. Indian reservation votes came in last of all, of course.
I have very little respect for "3rd party candidates" these days, or those who vote for them.
I like the way Louisiana does it. Hold an 'open primary' in which everybody runs in the same primary. Whoever wins over 50% of the vote wins. Rarely does this happen, though so the top two vote getters hold a runoff. That way, Repub, Dem, and a slew of third party, reform candidates can run. I think some of the Pubbies in Congress right now need a reform candidate to scare them straight.
He has always been in clinton's back pocket....
He was the lawyer who stood up for Gore in 2000 and was promised the governship of PA.
I live in PA. and he is a joke and whoever can beat him, good luck, I'm all for them...
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