Some Republican party leaders and insiders are hedging their bets, according to Pete DeCoursey at Capitolwire. A number of them say the state party’s endorsement may not win the day for Steve Welch on April 24.
Welch says his message is working, and that his campaign has the organization to get voters to the polls on primary day. Furthermore, he notes that his efforts have eroded support for rival Tom Smith. Welch’s TV ads have made hay of the fact that Smith a registered Dem until August.
But while Welch is on TV, he’s had a hard time keeping pace. Smith is outspending him about 3 to 1 in this final week of the campaign.
Reports Capitolwire:
Despite Corbett’s announcement, and the governor’s intense lobbying to win Welch the GOP State Committee’s backing, [State Rep. Mark] Gillen said: “In Berks County and around the state, I don’t think the sprinkling of the anointing oil has had the effect that was expected. Because the anointed candidate is in third place. Steve Welch doesn’t have the money Tom Smith has or the ground game Sam [Rohrer] has.
…
Dick Stewart, chairman of the central caucus of state committee, was one of those lobbied successfully by the governor to support Welch.
Tuesday, Stewart said: “I think it’s Smith. I am still not sure why the governor endorsed Welch and pushed state committee to endorse him. The Obama vote is a problem for Welch because it makes Republicans doubt his decision-making and convictions. It certainly didn’t help. And I don’t think Welch spent enough money early enough to deal with that issue. I don’t know if that can change in a week.”
…
State Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, the closest House ally Corbett, who has endorsed Welch and is supporting him actively, was asked Monday if the state committee endorsement would give Welch a sufficient boost to win.
Vereb did not reply initially, then smiled and acknowledged his silence was meaningful.
He said of Welch: “I think he could have run a little more intense campaign.” Looking over at Corbett at a mock-bill signing both attended, Vereb said: “I don’t think everyone’s gonna be happy with the result.”
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20 Responses
Where will Rohrer get money for the general election? Either the Republican Party will pony up the money to support him or they will reveal themselves as traitors by not doing as much as possible to defeat Casey. Either way, Corbett is a loser.
Why should politicians be able to “buy” an election? In the general, party monies will be behind the candidate anyway. I’d rather see a fiscally responsible, small-spending but efficient campaign than one that spends millions. My vote isn’t bought.
So where is all Rohrer’s money to compete in this primary? He doesn’t have a chance.
I will enjoy when Welch loses badly and throws egg in face of Corbett and the state GOP that folded during the voting. Many of us told them not to endorse anyone – maybe they will listen next time. With regards to Rohrer vs Smith, I have seen both of them speak and researched in detail – I find Rohrer the best candidate. My issue with Smith isn’t that he has been a life-long democrat because I do believe he is mostly conservative though he has no substantial record unlike Rohrer. My issue with Smith is that he cannot articulate a message when he speaks – unless he improves greatly, he will make Bob Casey look like a great orator. With regards to money, I don’t think Smith has enough money to buy all the ads to beat Casey. The GOP candidate is going to have to excite grassroots activists, big money donors and small money donors – I think Rohrer can do this – he has excited many people in this campaign.
Folks, wake up Tom Smith is a life time democrat. How can any of you even consider Tom Smith? Money does not make him a republican.
Every time I read a comment by Mike Vereb I feel like I have to take a shower.
Worries for Welch? You must mean worries for Corbett maybe. If Welch goes down Corbett is the big loser. He is the one who spent all his effort and political capital promoting this guy. He is the one who endorsed Welch, not “the party”. The party for the most part has had their vote nullified in a veiled attempt to steal the vote from committee for Welch. The voters are and will be informed. Many in the “party” are now downloading and using the official Republican ballot from Voters Services as the guide for choice to this election.
He lead the fight to repeal the payraise… Rendell signed that repeal in 2005. Does that count for anything?
Christian’s a good guy too… either one would *wonderful* compared to Smith and Welch.
Sam’s a fraud! He voted for the pay raise and the pension increase. These two votes disqualify him as a conservative, period!
Dave Christian gets my vote.
To the Sam Rohrer supporters. I was going to vote for Rohrer until I considered two things: his inability to beat Casey under any likely circumstances AND his lukewarm support for term limits. If Sam does not have the $$$ to get on air in the primary, it does not bode well for a general election. The only way to beat Casey is by linking him to Obama, which will take tons of TV ads. Too many voters think this Casey is like his father, which will take tons of money to change.
I was really disappointed by Sam’s comment (on website) that term limits is “not a panacea” that will solve the problems with government. THERE IS NO SOLUTION THAT COMES CLOSER!
We can argue over whether Sam Rohrer is better, or Tom Smith, or Dave Christian. The bottom line is any one of the others is better than Stevie “please make me a Congressman or Senator, I have lots of money” Welch. Stevie believes in nothing and has been adopted by the believe-in-nothing establishment “led” (can he really lead anyone?) by Governor Corbutt and his henchmen.
The important thing is to rise up and show Governor Corbutt and his crowd of do-nothing, believe-in-nothing, line-your-own-pockets, crony capitalists that we are on to them and it is over. The only thing they have accomplished in almost two years is to cajole state committee into attempting to force Stevie Welch down our throats. No state-pension reform, no reform of bloated state government, no nothing of the sort that is going on elsewhere, including Democratic Party-run states, much less places like Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin.
See you Tuesday. Bye bye Stevie Welch and hopefully the start of getting rid of his ilk.
We can all argue over whether Sam Rohrer is better, or Tom Smith, or Dave Christian. The bottom line is any one of the others is better than Stevie “please make me a Congressman or Senator, I have lots of money” Welch. Stevie believes in nothing and has been adopted by the believe-in-nothing establishment “led” (can he really lead anyone?) by Governor Corbutt and his henchmen.
The important thing is to rise up and show Governor Corbutt and his crowd of do-nothing, believe-in-nothing, line-your-own-pockets, crony capitalists that we are on to them and it is over. The only thing they have accomplished in almost two years is to cajole state committee into attempting to force Stevie Welch down our throats. No state-pension reform, no reform of bloated state government, no nothing of the sort that is going on elsewhere, including Democratic Party-run states, much less places like Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin.
See you Tuesday. Bye bye Stevie Welch and hopefully the start of getting rid of his ilk.
I second that Deborah! Sam has the conviction, is grounded and will use our Constitutuion and his faith as his guidepost!!!
Sam is the Man!
Wow! The blind leading the blind here. Smith IS Casey! Smith has been a life-long Democrat casting dozens of votes for unsavory polititions and somehow you think that is OK.
Love the way you’re counting your chickens…
Sam Rohrer is the proven and trusted Republican in this race and clearly distinguishes himself from the rest of the pack. That is, if you’re eyes are open.
http://www.rohrerforsenate.org/
Not so fast John P. While, yes, Casey is more likely to win (maybe 70%), if Obama gets beaten decisively nationally and PA goes for Romney, Tom Smith definitely could win by linking Casey and Obama.
Not so fast Rick. Casey will win with no problem…
Tom Smith for Senate! It’s time for Welch to throw his support behind Tom Smith! Tom can beat Casey in November. I am already looking forward to Tom’s ad campaign in the fall.
And in other news, it will be partly cloudy today.