Pa. politicians press the flesh in NYC!

[Bravo Zulu]

Republicans are confident their fortunes have turned
Monday, December 14, 2009
By Daniel Malloy, Post-Gazette Washington Bureau

NEW YORK -- The spirits of a few dozen Republicans were nearly as high as their location -- the 34th floor reception room of the Arent Fox law firm, offering a spectacular panorama of midtown Manhattan.

The $1,000-per-head Friday night fundraiser for Republican James Gerlach, a congressman from Chester County who is running for governor, was filled with confident talk as Republicans had a spring in their step at Pennsylvania Society Weekend, the yearly gathering of the state's political class.

Though they remain out of power in the Pennsylvania governor's mansion and in the U.S. Congress, Republicans have seen a terrible economy take its toll on Democrats in Harrisburg and Washington.

"People are very concerned and worried about fiscal issues," Mr. Gerlach said as his supporters hovered over finger foods. "We've got to get out there and talk to voters. I think they're willing to listen."

Society weekend was mostly a time for politicos to talk among themselves as hundreds of lawmakers, candidates, lobbyists and staffers gathered in New York for an annual rite that dates back to 1899. The centerpiece was Saturday night's black-tie Pennsylvania Society Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, an event preceded and followed by a lengthy list of parties around town.

The major gubernatorial candidates all held receptions and circled around dozens of others shaking countless hands. U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Bob Casey Jr. both dashed up to make appearances Saturday night despite having to be in Washington for votes Saturday and yesterday.

The races for governor and Senate were the most popular discussion topics, and in both cases Republicans boast candidates with strong chances. Attorney General Tom Corbett is a formidable contender to replace Gov. Ed Rendell, while former Congressman Pat Toomey is polling ahead of Mr. Specter -- who switched from Republican to Democrat in April and faces a tough primary fight from Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Delaware County.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09348/1020735-178.stm#ixzz0ZfVaZpQl

[PCIntern]

1. Gerlach is my congressman...

I don't get it; he's not "out there", nobody really likes him, he's sort of a faceless type....BUT, all the activist Dems I know in my district, when I ask them why they don't run an aggressive campaign against him, say "We can't win". I say: BS. Something's going on behind the scenes with this guy...we've elected Dems from this district before and recently.

[AndyA]

2. At the same time, Democrats should be reminding those voters that it was the GOP

who brought about this recession and resultant job loss.

Those Republicans, willing to listen about fiscal issues, should be asking why the GOP didn't do something to prevent it back in the summer of 2007, when signs first indicated a problem dead ahead.

America was being told things were good several months after the recession started. Bush lied to us. And the GOP went right along with him.