Excitement fizzles
It was too good to be true.
As late as last week it looked like local residents would get a first-hand look at the heated battle for the Republican presidential nomination as the candidates descended on Pennsylvania for the state’s April 24 primary.
There were signs that we might see a repeat of the 2008 battle for the Democratic presidential nomination when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton conducted a fierce fight in Pennsylvania’s primary.
Then, Clinton came to Fayette County for a spirited rally at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus. Her husband, Bill, also made a campaign appearance here. It was the first time in ages that a presidential candidate and a former president made campaign stops in Fayette County.
It was topped with an appearance by Hillary Clinton at California University just days before the primary.
Some thought that perhaps former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum might make a campaign stop in this area in his bid to stop former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney from winning the GOP’s presidential nomination. There was a possibility even Romney might make a campaign stop in the area in an attempt to defeat Santorum and knock him out of the race for good.
However, Santorum decided to take himself out of the race earlier this week, giving the nomination to Romney on a silver platter. All that’s left now is for Romney to be officially nominated at the GOP’s national convention later this summer in Tampa, Fla.
As it turns out, while some were wanting to see another chapter in the bruising battle between Romney and Santorum, GOP leaders wanted no parts of continuing the Republican bloodbath. They thought it was unnecessary, especially considering that it would be virtually impossible for Santorum to win more delegates than Romney or even prevent him from getting the majority necessary for the nomination. They believed it was more important for Republicans to come together around Romney and begin focusing on the number one goal of unseating Obama in the fall.
Seeing that he lacked support among Republican leaders in Pennsylvania, it must have dawned on Santorum that he could lose his home state to Romney. That would have not only put an end to his presidential aspirations but they could have seriously damaged his status as a rising star in the party after winning 11 presidential primaries.
So, he took the only option available, bowed out with his head held high and promised to be a leader in the GOP battle against Obama next November.
But with his exit went any excitement in the upcoming primary. This certainly will go down as one of the dullest elections in recent history.
On the Republican side, the only local election will be between Mark Fisher and George Toothman for the nomination in the 50th legislative district, which includes all of Greene County and parts of Fayette and Washington counties. The seat is currently held by Bill DeWeese, who although convicted of election fraud charges this past winter, is running unopposed on the Democratic Party ticket.
Statewide, there are two GOP battles. Five candidates are seeking the nomination for the U.S. Senate. They are Steve Welch, the state GOP’s endorsed candidate, Sam Rohrer, who ran unsuccessfully against Corbett for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010, Tom Smith, a businessman from Armstrong County, Marc Scaringi, a Harrisburg attorney, and David Christian of Bucks County, who was the co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
The other battle is for auditor general. It pits state Rep. John Maher, the endorsed candidate of the GOP, against the outsider Frank Pinto, who spent 25 years as president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers before retiring at the end of last year.
While the presidential race has been decided, there’s still a contest among those seeking to be delegates at the Republican National Convention.
There are nine candidates vying for three spots. Among them are U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg, and two Fayette County residents, Meryle-Lynn Epps of Wharton Township and Audra Cruder of Saltlick Township.
Democrats venturing to the polls will also have few choices. The only local race is between longtime state Rep. Pete Daley and Randy Barli for the nomination in the 49th legislative district, which includes parts of Washington and Fayette counties.
Statewide there are two races. The contest for attorney general has generated some interest with numerous television ads. It pits Patrick Murphy, 38, who spent two terms representing Philadelphia suburbs in the U.S. House of Representatives, against Kathleen Kane, who worked for 13 years as as a Lackawanna County assistant district attorney, specializing in child abuse cases.
The race has received some national attention with Kane being endorsed by former President Bill Clinton and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Murphy, meanwhile, has been endorsed by Obama political strategist David Axelrod and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The other race has drawn little interest with incumbent U.S. Sen. Robert P. Casey trying to hold off a challenge from newcomer Joseph Vodvarka of Allegheny County.