Governor Rendell 'still a little nervous' about Pennsylvania, asks Obama to return

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

(CNN) — Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has sent two separate memos to the Obama campaign in the past five days requesting that the Democratic Presidential candidate—as well as Hillary and Bill Clinton—return to campaign in Pennsylvania, Rendell told CNN's Gloria Borger.

Rendell said the McCain campaign is clearly making a push to win Pennsylvania, given the recent visits by the Arizona senator, his wife and his running mate. As a result, he wants Obama to appear in western Pennsylvania, Harrisburg and one more “large rally” in Philadelphia. Democrats generally worry that the race is significantly closer than what recent polls have suggested. According to Rendell, there is also worry among Democrats the McCain campaign has successfully raised the enthusiasm level among Republicans in the state.

“I don’t want to be selfish,” Rendell said. “But I’m still a little nervous, so I have asked Obama to come back. We understand he’s got demands from 20 different states, but we’d like to see him here.”

Obama's support appears to be weakest in the western part of the state, a region Pennsylvania Rep. Jack Murtha recently called 'racist,' and one where he badly lost to Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

Obama last campaigned in Pennsylvania on October 11, a week and a half ago. VP candidate Joe Biden made an appearance with Bill and Hillary Clinton in Scranton on October 12. McCain and running mate Sarah Palin have both made visits to the state this week.

The latest CNN poll of polls in Pennsylvania suggests Obama hold a 13 point lead over McCain there. CNN currently considers the state leaning Obama.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/21/rendell-still-a-little-nervous-about-penn-asks-obama-to-return/

[babylonsister]

1. I'm beginning to think Rendell is an attention whore myself. I imagine

Obama and Biden have every intention of going back there before it's over.

[DesertFlower]

2. i'm sure they will. nt

[OhioChick]

6. My family in Pa. don't care for Rendell, at all.

BTW...I thought Obama was up in Pa. by double digits?

[stoge18]

17. Allentown Morning Call has him up by 11

They're doing a daily poll in conjunction with Muhlenberg College. Up by 11 today. I fully expect the McCain campaign to dig out the "cling to their God and guns" footage somemtime in the next few days. I think Obama needs to come back here.

[goclark]

3. REndell can -- no never mind

[Politicalboi]

4. Obama should have

Several rallies all at once with big screens via satellite. I think he could reach more people with the time left. Do more screen events at states he's been to before. The crowd in St.Louise didn't get to see Obama with the sea of people there but they came anyways.

[creeksneakers2]

5. Pennsylvania is in the bag

If Obama can't even get Pennsylvania he's in trouble all over. The state is bluer than most.

George Bush wasted 40 trips to PA in 2004 and still lost.

[atjrpsych]

7. Although probably not necessary, I would love Obama to come back

Just about everyone I know is voting for Obama. I about 1/2 mile from the border of Philly so this area tends to be liberal, still I don't remember this many peoople leaning democrat.

[Gman]

8. Where there's smoke there's a fire

there's too many reports slipping out about Obama's lead slipping in PA. Too many reports that McCain is closing. Obama needs to get back there at least twice more before election day.

[wisteria]

9. Earth to Rendell- Obama will waste his time campaigning in Western Pa

(I live in Western Pa) Kerry came here right after the convention in 2004 and Edwards can back also and the area still went overwhelmingly for Bush. Gore didn't even bother coming in 2000. Western Pa is smothered by the only newspaper in town belonging to Scaife. Scaife has the people here thinking just like the most far right wing ideologues. Most of the people have very little, but they think the Democrats are going to take it from them, so they vote against their best interests- over and over again.All you have to do is mention raising taxes and your out. The Republicans have used the old tired, I won't raise your taxes line over and over again to win. Never mind that we get less and less for our tax money. Let Sen. Obama go to Scranton- where Casey is from and Philadelphia, but he is wasting his time and money trying for these poor gullible people. Harrisburg too is a waste of time to,unfortunately. Republicans galore.
I also get the impression Rendell wants to make it appear that the Clinton's have to come and save the day.

[ladywnch]

11. I thought I read where the Post Gazette came out endorsing Obama

the other day.

http://post-gazette.com/pg/08286/919151-192.stm

[stoge18]

16. Hello from a fellow western PAer

Hi Wisteria. Nice to see a fellow western PAer here. I was born in NW PA, an have spent most of my life in the Keystone state. I'm back in NW PA now after having spent the past 8 or so years in the SW corner. You are spot on regarding most of the people having very little yet still thinking the Dems will take what they have. Guns are very important here too, as you well know. This past weekend, and extended family member said to me, "Obama wants my guns and he ain't gonna get them!" I don't even know where that ban guns notion comes from.

While I agree with you that Obama cannot win Western PA, I do want him to return. I remeber Kerry drawing 18,000 in Greensburg in 2004. And that's hardcore Scaife country. He could hold a rally in Pittsburgh (or even Erie), and make his way across the state to rally in Scranton and Philly on the same day. It would be a show of force and would rally the volunteers in the 81 PA field offices to get the vote out. Money and time well spent, IMHO.

[donna123]

10. I like rendell

Maybe I'm not privy to certain info but what I've seen and heard from him, I like him and maybe it's not a bad idea to go to pa in the past 2 weeks, altho I certainly have no idea what the obama campaign's schedule is and how it would fit in, and have the clintons visit, why is that a bad thing

[stillcool]

12. He just did 4 rallies in one day there..

didn't he? And he had the whistle stop tour. Why would he broadcast this? Somethings up.

[IndianaGreen]

13. And Obama and Hillary should hit PA again

We can't count on Ohio or Florida where the previous two elections were stolen. No offense intended to our friends in OH amd PA.

[AndyTiedye]

14. A 13 Point Democratic Lead is "Leaning"…

…only in a state that has DRE (Direct Republican Electing) voting machinez! (see Georgia, 2002).

Unfortunately, that's what Pennsylvania has, mostly:
http://www.verifiedvoting.org/verifier/map.php?&topic_string=5std&ec=mixed&year=2008&state=Pennsylvania
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7539905

[woodsprite]

15. I'm nervous about it too - especially since I was calling there last weekend

It seemed most people I actually 'talked' to either were undecided or refused to say who they were voting for. A few were just downright rude and nasty, but that's out of over 300 calls my daughter and I made. Still, the undecideds or the ones refusing to share who they were supporting floored me. BTW, we were calling into the Erie area.