Schwartz supporters passed these stickers out Friday. Notable absent: “for Congress”
Hershey — “Free drink tickets, courtesy of Jim Burn and Allyson Schwartz.”
So said a Schwartz campaign staffer to every Democrat who entered a Friday night reception at the party’s winter state committee.
It was just one sign that the Montgomery County Congresswoman, who has floated her name as a possible candidate for Governor in 2014, is taking the race a lot more seriously.
The Schwartz for Guv movement went from insider chatter to a full court press Friday.
While Schwartz was absent from the meeting, her staff – and supporters – were prevalent. Her co-sponsorship of the desserts and drinks event with Pa. Dems Chair Jim Burn was a last minute addition to the schedule.
“She’s 80% of the way in,” said Marcel Groen, the chair of the Democratic party in Schwartz’s home county. He’s one of the most influential party leaders in Pa.
“This is not a joke. She’s a serious person with three million bucks,” said another top Democrat. Schwartz is a prolific fundraiser and has $3.11 million on hand in her congressional campaign. Pa. state campaign finance laws would allow her to transfer 100% of the money into a gubernatorial bid.
Schwartz floated the idea of a bid back in December, but after being named the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Finance Chair the move seemed less likely. Additionally, she’s on the rise in Democratic House politics and has been steadily moving up the ranks. She’s also been in the conversation as a possible opponent to Sen. Pat Toomey in 2016.
DGA Poll
Half a dozen Democratic operatives confirmed that the Democratic Governors’ Association recently polled the 2014 Pa. gubernatorial race. Their findings: Schwartz is in a strong position vis-a-vis other potential candidates.
After positive and negative profiles of Schwartz and Corbett were read to respondents, according to one Democratic operative who is backing Schwartz – who said they were looking at a copy of the poll – Schwartz lead by 8 points.
With a positive profile of Schwartz and a negative one of Corbett, she lead 58 points to 31. That is “substantially” better than the next best Democrat, the operative said.
The negative profile is significant. Schwartz, who has Harrisburg experience from her years in the Pa. Senate, used to run a women’s health clinic in Philadelphia that performed abortions. But even that negative didn’t have a significant impact on her numbers, the source said.
PoliticsPA is seeking confirmation from the DGA.
That may be especially true given Corbett’s tough sledding on women’s issues and his polling gender gap.
Schwartz’s staffers at the event declined to comment. But spokeswoman Rachel Magnuson said over the phone that Schwartz was looking hard at a run.
“Across the state, individuals have been asking the Congresswoman to run against Governor Corbett. It’s something she is weighing very seriously,” she said.
The rest of the field
Her moves are being watched – closely.
Pa. Treasurer Rob McCord has been seen as a likely candidate for months. One top Democratic operative said he’s “too far in” to back out of the race. He gave two speeches Friday night, both well received.
McCord said he hasn’t made anything official – although party operatives report that he has been making calls and touring the state just as a Guv hopeful would.
He didn’t make any announcement Friday, but he told PoliticsPA, “I do think as we take a look at what’s going on with Pennsylvania economy, what’s going on with jobs. It’s really important we have a nominee with job creation experience in the private sector,” he said. McCord spent much of his career as an investor.
“I trust that if I ran I’d have abundant resources. I’m not worried about fundraising.”
He’s heard the Schwartz chatter too – and he’s not deterred.
“There’s nobody talking about getting in that I’ve heard of that would affect my choice,” he said.
“Rob McCord needs to say he’s in,” concluded one operative, if he wants to prevent Schwartz from gaining steam.
Chairman Groen also represents McCords home county. He said he didn’t think the race would make it all the way to primary day.
“If Allyson gets in, raises a bunch of money, gets a bunch of support, then Rob McCord will need to take a look around and decide how far he wants to go. If Rob McCord gets in and gets the money and support, then Allyson will need to decide.”
State Sen. Daylin Leach has made little secret of the fact that he’d like to replace Schwartz in Congress should she decide to run for Governor – though he stopped short of saying so Friday. (He’d be a strong candidate in the Dem-favoring district).
“I support Allyson for anything,” he said, moments after huddling with a Schwartz staffer. But he said that he had no inside knowledge of her decision.
Southeast Pa. committee members are torn. Schwartz and McCord have strong relationships in the region, which is the electoral base of the party.
So too does former Congressman Joe Sestak, an x-factor who has himself been making calls and has told at least some Democrats that he is likely to get in the race.
Meanwhile, two other gubernatorial hopefuls had state committee receptions planned for later Friday night.
John Hanger, the former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary under Gov. Ed Rendell, and Max Myers, a Cumberland County pastor with no political background.
And they may not be the only ones. Former Revenue Secretary and York businessman Tom Wolf said he’s likely to run.
A source close to Rendell said the Guv would kick into gear for Wolf or another candidate or two.
“If Tom Wolf or another candidate he likes gets in, he will turn on the Philadelphia spigot. He won’t turn on the Philadelphia spigot for Rob or Allyson,” said the source.
Former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Erie) and state Sen. Mike Stack (D-Phila) were also working the room on Friday.
Dahlkemper said she’s “still exploring” the possibility of a run.
PoliticsPA changed the headline of this article from “exclusive” to “breaking” because Capitolwire reported that Schwartz was 80% likely to run a bit earlier – although the story did not make mention of the DGA poll.
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Allyson Schwartz is proof the Democrat Party is irretrievably in the hands nincompoops, LIVs, anti-constitutionalists, gun-grabbers and those who regard abortion (regardless of the age of the unborn baby) as a Founding Father prerogative.
But since Nancy Pelosi hasn’t moved to Jenkintown, guess we’re blessed with the next best thing!
Half the GOP wants anybody but Corbett. Of course, Schwartz the Abortionist leads him in the polls. Pennsylvanians would even prefer an abortionist to RINO Corbett.
Im interested to see all the horses that enter the race before picking one. I hope we have a candidate that can win votes in all corners of Pennsylvania, as opposed to just 1 or 2 areas because if thats the case, i smell trouble.
Bruce Castor is smiling even broader. No chance in the world Corbett beats Schwartz. The GOP’s only shot is to dump Corbett for a candidate who can split Schwartz SE base. Since Asher et al can never admit they made a mistake with Corbett to begin with, he will take them right over the cliff. If fact, I think I hear Castor’s laugh from all the way out here in the ‘burg.
You whackos are calling her an “abortionist”? Silly single issue voters. Allyson is a fierce and fantastic advocate for women’s rights. You pig are simply offensive.
Allyson, a tax, tax and more tax and spend Washington politician is the dream opponent for Corbett.
Where do I sign up to volunteer for Allyson’s campaign for governor?
i wanted to note a factual issue in this article daylin leach does not live in allyson schwartz’s congressional district he lives in pat meehans. he is over the line by i believe two or three blocks
ONLY Dominic Pileggi can beat Allyson Schwartz! We must have a moderate southeastern Republican to have a chance! Corbett’s base of support has now officially been reduced to family members and employees, and even they are fading.
Way to go, Democrats! Please do your best to push someone into the governor’s race that has voted for dozens of tax increases. The abortion clinic is a nice cherry on top but all we’ll need is her voting record. Thanks.
@proudofphilly,
Perhaps you are unaware, but a member of Congress need not live in her or his district to campaign for or occupy that seat. She or he need only live in the same state. In fact, Allyson Schwartz did not live in her congressional district when she first ran for it (she lived in an area of Philadelphia represented by Congressman Fattah). So, there goes your theory that state Sen. Daylin Leach cannot run for Congresswoman Schwartz’s district if she no longer occupies it, and he doesn’t move, merely because lives outside the district by a short distance.
You don’t have to live in a congressional district to be elected to it. According to PA election rules, you only need to live in the state. Admittedly, not living in the district can be a campaign issue, but it’s not a legal requirement
Haa, I see all the nut-jobs woke up early to spew their hatred and tired old talking points. Note to you crazies, Tom Corbett has already broken his no new taxes pledge and now is trying to raise your gas taxes. So, you can’t win on the taxes nonsense. As for the abortion issue, I heart you one-issue voters who don’t actually care about women or children, but think being pro-life starts and ends with abortion. Spew your hate and vile because it makes you look stupid and turns off independents and women who may actually support you on other issues.
Didn’t Allyson run an abortion clinic?
Pennsylvanians as a whole are middle of the road. They don’t want Rick Santorum at one extreme, and they don’t want Allyson Schwartz at the other extreme. Running an abortion clinic is too extreme for Pennsylvania. Rob McCord would be a much more sensible choice. Allyson is just too extreme.
Schwartz is the Democrat’s version of Sara Palin, except she doesn’t have Palin’s gift of beauty. Schwartz is shrill like Palin, extreme like Palin, opinionated like Palin. She will not sell statewide in fact if memory serves she has run statewide and got creamed. The Democrats need a centrist candidate with bona fides in fiscal management. Tom Wolf or Rob McCord perhaps. Schwartz is known simply as the pro-choice crusader, and people don’t give a crap about that right now they need a job. An ugly left-wing version of Palin is not the way to beat Corbett.
I think Dems should run an ad: It’s time to “abort” Corbett from the Governor’s mansion.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Dailyn Leach live in Wayne? He could clearly still run, but that’s not exactly “2 or 3 blocks” over the line.
Schwartz’s district is 2-1 Dem registration.
If Daylin won the primary (and had Allyson’s endorsement), no one in that district (or at least 51%) wouldn’t give a crap where he lived in order to get a strong, outspoken, fearless, liberal like Daylin on the national stage.
The questions are:
who else would Daylin have to fight for the seat
who do we run for Daylin’s senate seat?
Said it before here a couple of months back . . . and I’ll say it again. The ticket for Democrats to win should be Rob McCord for Governor and Kathy Dahlkemper for Lt. Governor. Seems to me that Allyson Schwartz really wants to run for US Senate and is just trying to make sure her name is out there circulating statewide.
Actually, a killer ticket would be McCord-Wagner.
Neither candidate would need to cross Harrisburg for campaigning.
As for Sestak, I spoke with the sharpest political mind I know who:
1) knows Sestak
2) is not a Sestak hater
3) is not a Sestak cult worshiper
4) Has a better record than me on predictions
His impression was that Sestak’s best bet is 2016 with a presidential year, IF he can win the primary, which might be difficult. Allyson Schwartz would probably be more interested in Senate, and her current Gov noise, is just to float her name around to feel out statewide support.
As for Sestak, his recent whispers about Gov, are just complete BS, to keep his name talked about. Surprisingly, my friend (who’s bigger liberal Dem than I am) is afraid that Sestak could be the one candidate that could lose and get Corbett reelected.
My take: If Hillary does run, then Sestak would get both the Bill and Hillary treatment for his primary to lock up the nomination. So, I think Sestak is just trying to get people to talk about him and keep his name out there. I think Sestak will wait until he knows for sure that Hillary is running before announcing Senate run. By, 2016, Schwartz would have a huge war-chest for Senate run, and Sestak would be starting from scratch. Last time, he was able to shift 4.5 million from his congressional account, but this time he wouldn’t. Also, Schwartz would get a lot of ActBlue money that Sestak used to get.
And if Hillary doesn’t run, the Clintons aren’t likely to bother with raggedy old Joe, and will just enjoy their political retirement. Bill busted his ass this past year, to help Obama and clear the field for Hillary among the Dems. But, if she’s not running, why would Bill bother in 2016 to help someone like Sestak?
@dave
I can see where you maybe right. Sestak has a mansion in Alexandria, Virginia. I heard the mansion in VA is nicer than his place in Del Co. But I can’t confirm that. If elected to the Senate, he will be able to live in VA while still representing PA. The weather is better in VA than PA, nicer home, and doesn’t have to deal with a Republican State Senate and House.
I would vote for him either way.
McCord is clearly the best choice.
Jeremy-
Well, right now, he’s living in VA, and pretending to live in PA. Just like Rick Santorum did for years. Joe’s wife isn’t even registered in PA. She registered for 2006 election, then dropped her registration. (She didn’t even bother to register to vote for Joe in 2010. Arlen Specter’s wife switched to Dem to vote for him.)
Sestak’s had his house in Virginia since before 2000. I wouldn’t call it a “mansion”, but Realtor.com estimates it worth in the $800K – $900K price range.
In Oct 2010 (yes, during the election), Sestak filed a building permit for work on an extension to his house in VA. So much for living in PA.
His house in PA is worth only about 1/3 of his VA house. Maybe he uses it to store all the campaign buttons, and lawn signs left over from his failed Senate campaign. Long after he lost, his campaign finance reports show him buying over a $1,000 in stationery. Maybe he went nuts and sits alone in the house cutting out paper dolls and barking orders at them.
I’d love to get a look at his military psych eval. It probably just says: See Captain Queeg, Caine Mutiny.
McCord is the best choice but I am afraid in a primary where activists vote heavily that Schwartz could win the primary and then lose to Corbett.
A pro-abortion, pro-tax, anti-gun wacko female from SEPA….should do well for the Democrats. Pennylvania’s own version of Nancy Pelosi. I can’t see how this would blow up in the faces of the Dems at all.
…meanwhile, Jack Wagner is sitting at home, twiddling his thumbs. I guess he’s not crazy enough to be considered a viable candidate for the Democrats.
Schwartz 80% in? I would spend 100% of my time ensuring she never inflict on PA the damage she has contributed to inflicting on our country. Every tax and spend bill has this woman’s and her sidekick, Chaka Fattah’s, fingerprints all over it.
Who is Jack Wagner again? Honestly, I heard his name once or twice on here but I can’t name an office he has been elected to??
Wagner is from Pittsburgh. Was the Auditor General the past 8 years and a state senator before that. 3.5 million votes in his 2008 re-election were the most in state history, but he didn’t have the war chest to keep up with Onorato in the 2010 gubernatorial primary (not that he or anyone would’ve fared better vs. Corbett in the fall).
The Republican comments on here show how the activists in that party are gonna take the elephant off the cliff. Shrill and offensive claims about their Democratic opponents doesn’t win elections (see ’08 and ’012 elections). Good luck Republicans – you will need it.
Some wre on her…alot in fact a person says ABC….I like it!
Basile
“And finally …
• Gov. Tom Corbett
The beleaguered governor probably reached for the Rolaids after seeing the results of a Franklin & Marshall College poll released Thursday. Not only do a mere 26 percent of registered voters believe Corbett is doing a good job, only 41 percent of Republican respondents believe the GOP governor is performing well.
Silver lining: In what should bolster confidence in his chances for re-election next year, Corbett did manage to outpoll ringworm, anthrax and most Nazi war criminals. ”
Read more: http://triblive.com/news/ericheyl/3450019-74/state-silver-lining#ixzz2Ke3iGUbw
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