Joe Hoeffel wants to run for Governor as the "progressive choice"

[JPZenger]

Joe Hoeffel is a former US House member from the Phila. suburbs, an unsuccessful candidate for US Senator and a Dem County Commissioner from Montgomery County. He sent out the following message today:

"Many thanks for signing up as my friend! I am very grateful for your interest and your support. I look forward to sharing ideas and discussing the Governor’s race with you.

The reaction has been very encouraging to my expression of interest in running for governor. Lots of people agree that a progressive candidate needs to be competing for the Democratic nomination in 2010. I am convinced we will lose public support if we veer to the right and embrace conservative views. If we can find and hold the progressive center we will win!

Celinda Lake will be polling for me right after Labor Day. She is a highly regarded national pollster with great credibility, and she has done a lot of previous work in Pennsylvania and knows the state well. I will keep you posted as the results come in.

Thanks again!

Joe"

[PADEMJES12]

1. Smart thinker or general election loser... its our choice in 2010

I respectfully suggest the much smarter strategy of remaining focused on 2010 victory
in the general election, as opposed to narrowing the field as to the type of candidate that will
be ELECTABLE amongst independents and moderates in 2010. This group will ultimately carry the day in PA and decide the
outcome of both races. This is the CERTAIN 2010 political reality and climate in Pennsylvania, particularly in a midterm
congressional year (in which our party has control) and also that is the same year as the guvs race.

Obviously, those folks with political ambitions are not going to agree with this, pretend this isn't the political reality,
or will acknowledge its reality and still run in the interest of personal political gain with the prospects of the state
Dem Party to win the 2010 elections as a mere after thought.

Of course, these folks understandably, who may be somewhat unknown, or know they cant do very well in front of moderates or
independent types naturally are more focused on the primary as their "sole vision" with blinders on. But, in the back of their
minds, they must have a hint of the political reality and atmosphere that awaits them in the 2010 general election. That being said
the choices are as clear as the political reality itself for voters such as you and me:
:
1) pick a candidate who is going to give the democrats the best chance to win with moderate and independent voters and help us carry
the day

or

2) ignore the political reality or deny it and pick lesser known statewide candidates who don't appeal as well to the moderates
and independents (and lets see where we end up).

My tip is Be a smart thinker, not a general loser in 2010!

[JPZenger]

2. Hoeffel's Run is a Surprise

I don't know enough about Hoeffel to make a choice for Governor. He apparently feels the current candidates are too moderate. There certainly is a geographic angle - he wants to grab the eastern PA vote while the other candidates spilt the western PA vote. That geographically oriented voting is unfortunate.

Hoeffel seemed to run a weak statewide campaign against Specter in 2004.