By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com
A day after his inter-party opponent proposed they agree to not use negative personal attacks, Democratic congressional candidate Manan Trivedi responded that such an deal is unnecessary because his campaign has already committed to running a positive campaign.
Former Philadelphia Inquirer editorialist Doug Pike on Monday suggested he and Trivedi sign an agreement that, among other things, would require the candidates call each other personally to apologize if they or their campaigns made any personal attacks. The agreement stipulated the two men focus exclusively on issues to make sure whoever wins emerges from unscathed by criticism and is well-positioned to defeat incumbent Republican Jim Gerlach.
Trivedi formally responded Tuesday in a letter to Pike by saying “from day one” he has run a campaign based on integrity.
“I will continue to run an honest and truthful campaign focused on the vital issues important to families struggling in this economy,” said Trivedi, a physician. “I will present my ideas and qualifications to Democratic primary voters, and will certainly make the case for why I am the better candidate to defeat Jim Gerlach in November.”
Although he didn‘t explicity reject the agreement, he also didn‘t agree to it all the while implicity making the case such a deal is unnecessary. His campaign manager, Ed Niles, also told PoliticsPA on Monday that the offer made Pike “sound like someone who’s afraid of his own record.”
Trivedi also used his letter to take a thinly veiled jab at Pike’s campaign manager, Andrew Eldredge-Martin. He received criticism last year when the liberal Web site DailyKos revealed the staffer had used fake names to criticize Trivedi anonymously on the site.
It is also important to note that I will take personal responsibility for every message my campaign delivers to voters — on the phones, in the mailbox, through the press, and on the Internet,” Trivedi wrote. “I hope you’ll begin doing the same.”
Pike said he initially offered the agreement to head off what some have speculated will be a heated primary. And, in fact, many Democrat do expect the race to be one of the state’s most competitive primaries, with most unsure who to call the favorite at this stage.
Pike held a roughly $1 million financial edge over Trivedi as of the beginning of this year and could potentially dip further into his personal wealth to maintain and expand his advantage. Trivedi has emerged as the more popular pick among many local 6th District officials, and he received an important boost last month when the Chester County Democratic Committee endorsed him.
On Tuesday, the Pike campaign issued a release showing former 6th District candidate Brian Gordon, a Lower Merion commissioner, supported Trivedi signing the agreement.
“I applaud your approach and pledge for positive campaigning,” he said in an e-mail distributed by the Pike campaign. “If Democrats are going to prevail, we must not engage in the politics of personal destruction in an effort to be the nominee of our party.”
Gordon said he remains neutral in the race.
Tags: Doug Pike, Doug Pike for congress, Manan Trivedi, Manan Trivedi for congress
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We Dont want insiders sucking up To Elected Officials They are the ones who got us into the mess we are in now Lets stop the ” Im Loved by Elected Officials ” Quite frankly we are sick and tired of Insiders