This weekend, one thing was clear: Pennsylvania’s newspapers love Joan Orie Melvin. How much their endorsements will help the GOP nominee for Pennsylvania’s vacant Supreme Court seat remains to be seen, but in a low-profile race, high-profile endorsements from the Inquirer, Post-Gazette and Patriot-News can’t hurt.
The Inquirer endorsed Melvin , but expressed regret that judges are elected in an increasingly political process, instead of a merit-based appointment system. The race between Orie Melvin (R) and Jack Panella (D) is especially important because the court, split between Democrats and Republicans, could decide how legislative districts are redrawn.
The Post-Gazette editorial board loves both candidates, but also endorsed Orie Melvin.
“If Judge Panella wins this race, the court will be down to six men and one woman… Advantage, Judge Melvin, who would strike a small but important blow for gender balance by keeping the number of female justices at two.”
The Patriot-News endorsed Orie Melvin, but denounced her negative ads aimed at Jack Panella, which aimed to pair him with President Obama.
For City Controller, the Inquirer endorsed Republican Al Schmidt, citing the need for a GOP watchdog in Dem-dominated Philadelphia. To read more about the Philly GOP’s demise and hope for revival, read this fascinating Philadelphia Magazine feature, aptly titled “This Party Sucks.”
Also in the Inquirer, Monica Yant Kinney says New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine must turn on the charm to complete his dramatic comeback against GOP challenger Chris Christie. Corzine, who has made a furious comeback in the polls, campaigned with President Obama last week, and is riding on a wave of anti-Christie ads and growing support for independent Chris Daggett.
“Voters may never love Corzine,” Kinney said, “but they could fall in like with him.”
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