Closing the deal

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review ^ | Salena Zito

[Salena Zito]

The narrative of this historic presidential election has come down to which candidate will close the deal and win the trust of Pennsylvania voters.

From the outside looking in, Pennsylvania has become a metaphor for all that is wrong with our country when it comes to race -- especially those of its Democrats who are soft on or wary of Barack Obama.

Yet on the inside, Pennsylvania is far from its broad-brush portrayal as racist. It is not the color of the candidate; it is the culture he represents.

Say what you will, Obama's "spread the wealth" tongue-slip hit home here.

Most Pennsylvania Democrats who live outside of Philadelphia are very Midwestern in their values and their votes.

If they lose their jobs, they go out and get two more to make up for the loss. They do not take handouts and they don't whine; they provide for themselves and their families.

What are these people made of? I can remember listening as a child to my union-Democrat immigrant grandparents saying they never took "relief" during the Great Depression -- and they were raising five children, had no education beyond the fourth grade and spoke broken English.

[Mrs.Z]

Good read from a writer who obviously has great insight into the personality of the keystone state.

[Rudder]

As a native of Western Pennsylvania, I say, “Well-said.”

[Netizen]

Sums it up well. Find out which states have the highest handouts and those the states that will go to obama.

[Senator Goldwater]

Most Pennsylvania Democrats who live outside of Philadelphia are very Midwestern in their values and their votes.

---

I am learning this during the current election cycle, although I should’ve known this.

During my youth on the south Jersey shore, Pennsylvania meant loud Italian Phillies fans on the boardwalk.

Later, I met a woman in York and that was something else entirely. As is the smattering of folks I know in places like Erie.

Come on, Keystoners. Your nation needs you TODAY.