August 02, 2006
PA Dems Will Challenge Green Signatures
The chairman of the PA Dem party, T.J. Rooney, said today he'll challenge the signatures that Green Party candidate Carl J. Romanelli submitted to join the Senate ballot. A number of those signatures were collected by JSM, Inc.
Rooney: “This is a questionable and controversial firm that has a history of fraudulent activity where many signatures, and candidates in some instances, have been thrown off the ballot in various states. We will ensure that this doesn’t take place in Pennsylvania and that the integrity of the electoral process is safeguarded.”
Backers of Sen. Rick Santorum donated nearly $60,000 to help Romanelli, who is pro-choice, gather signatures to get on the ballot. The Green Party counts fewer than 20K members in PA; it took 67K signatures to earn a spot, and Romanelli turned in more than 90K.
Posted at 10:33 AM
Comments
Democrats are foolish to challenge the Greens in Pennsylvania. It doesn't necessarily follow that having a Green in the US Senate race helps Senator Santorum. Many Pennsylvania Republicans are pro-choice but they don't like Democrats. If there is no third choice on the ballot, they may vote for Santorum even though they don't like his stand on social issues. But if there is a 3rd choice, they may opt for it. Meanwhile, partisan Democrats won't be tempted to vote Green because they are so desperate to get control of the US Senate back. Mainstream pollsters in 2004 found that Nader voters, if unable to vote for Nader, were slightly more likely to support Bush than Kerry.
Richard Winger | 08.02.06 02:14 PM
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All Green Party candidates and supporters should be embarrassed about this fiasco. Acting as a tool of the GOP is the furthest thing from the Green Party agenda.
Bob | 08.02.06 02:35 PM
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Ballot access laws are written by Rs and Ds to their benefit and to the detriment of newer parties. How hypocritical! Thousands of American lives are being wasted in Iraq so their citizens can choose between over 120 different parties and the Democrats in Pennsylvania want to limit PA citizens to just Rs and Ds. Shame, shame, shame!
Ruth | 08.02.06 09:13 PM
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Um, I'm not quite sure how Romanelli's candidacy constitutes "acting as a tool of the GOP." Romanelli's positions are his own, and neither Rick Santorum nor his well-heeled supporters have the least influence on the direction of the Romanelli campaign. What they have done is to throw a lot of cash in the hat, because they think many voters will choose Romanelli over Casey, if given the opportunity. They may well be correct. I continue to be astounded by progressive voters who settle for uninspiring Democratic candidates, for no other reason than the mass and inertia of the Democratic Party. In the meantime, Romanelli will inject some sorely-needed diversity of opinion into the senatorial race--and if he got someone else to fit the bill for it, bully for him. I look forward to the election when the Democratic machine in Pennsylvania will abandon its practice of trying to run minor-party candidates off the ballot, as U.S. House candidate Lois Murphy (with Ed Rendell's help) did to Green candidate Dorothy Schieber in the 2004 election.
Jeff | 08.03.06 04:01 PM
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Why is it that people with extra money determine who our choices will be? All legitimate political parties (such as the Greens) should be given a place on the ballot and some funding and media time to get their message out. It's time to end the constant scramble for donations that has changed our democracy into an auction. I support Carl Romanelli because he's the only candidate in Pennsylvania who stands for political reform.
John S | 08.04.06 10:38 AM
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