The DSCC Really Wants You To Pay Attention To PA Senate
After the break, check out a memo from J.B. Poersch, the DSCC's executive director. It starts with an account of alleged fraud committed by Sen. Rick Santorum's campaign and ends with a plea or sorts not to believe the latest (tightening?) polls.
To: Interested Parties
From: J.B. Poersch, DSCC Executive Director
RE: Fraud in Pennsylvania
With the CT primary and London terror plots capturing most of the media's attention last week, one significant news item that slipped under the radar is the massive fraud being perpetrated by Rick Santorum’s campaign in Pennsylvania.
In recent months, Santorum campaign donors illegally financed the Green Party’s effort to gather signatures to get its candidate – Carl Romanelli – on the November ballot. The problem, though, is that the contributions went directly to the Luzerne County Green Party rather than to Romanelli’s campaign. When the Green Party transferred $66,000 to Romanelli to pay for the petition collections, they violated FEC regulations by exceeding the legal limit on in-kind contributions by $63,900.
The fraud started when the Republicans and Santorum supporters illegally provided funding to the Green Party to hire JSM Inc., a for-profit signature gathering firm from Florida. JSM has a long history of engaging in fraudulent activity and representing clients that get thrown off the ballot. JSM’s activities in Pennsylvania are commensurate with this history.
Once JSM was hired, the overwhelming majority of signatures that it collected on behalf of the Green Party candidate were fraudulent, forged or came from people who weren’t registered to vote. Democrats are currently challenging the validity of the signatures.
In some cases, so many petitions were circulated by the same people in such a short period of time that it is difficult to believe there wasn’t fraud. For example, one circulator accomplished the almost impossible feat of gathering over 1,000 signatures in a single day. Other circulators circulated petitions in numerous counties across the Commonwealth on the same day. One Santorum aide went so far as to collect petitions in five counties in just one day, a fact that the Santorum campaign did not dispute. Many signatures were gathered at homeless shelters from unregistered voters.
In addition, Santorum publicly encouraged the Green Party’s efforts as early as June 2006. Santorum invited Romanelli to a forum with him and Bob Casey, his top advisors went on the radio telling people to vote for Romanelli and his campaign sent out emails supporting the effort. At least six Santorum campaign staffers, including the deputy campaign manager, collected signatures to get Romanelli on the ballot. Santorum’s campaign has acknowledged, “We have encouraged those who have inquired or asked to assist in this effort.”
Santorum’s effort to pull a third party candidate into the race reflects his apparent belief that he is unable to attract majority support in a head to head match-up against Bob Casey. Not only has Santorum never led Casey in a general election poll, but Santorum’s support is often under 40%, a rarity for an incumbent. These dismal poll numbers come even after Santorum and his third-party allies have spent $5 million on radio and TV ads.
[Sources: AP, 8/1/06; Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/1/06; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8/10/06:
it won't be competitive once romanelli is kicked off the ballot.
Right on, Marcus!!!
"Many signatures were gathered at homeless shelters from unregistered voters."
Huh? If you are not registered, how could you vote? Don't you mean "Many signatures were gathered at homeless shelters from individuals not registered to vote."
Macaca!
Hi folks,
Why has practically no one mentioned that the Casey-Santorum gap only decreased 1% when Romanelli's name was added to the much publicized poll question?
Why has no one mentioned that while it is without a doubt true that hard core Santorum supporters contributed at least $35,000 of the $66,000 to Romanelli campaign, other donors also give to John Murtha, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards.
Also, Casey and Santurum share corporate donors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Right now, the Green smear campaign looks really good, but don't forget the election is still 3 months away, the strategy could back-fire.
Consider treating Green voters, both registered and independents, with respect. If not, don't be mad at me if it cost your candidate the election in November.
We have a right to vote for the candidate that best represents our views.
fairchance
Its the Democrats own fault.
The Democratic Party's hard turn to the right wing why people like Romanelli have supporters. If the Democrats would field candidates who can attract these voters these problems would not exist.
Romanelli's positiions reflect the values of progressive voters. Right wing Democrat Bob Casey reflects the values of Republican voters. If the Democrats want something different from the Republicans in the U.S. senate they need to vote for someone different from the bobsy twins of Santorum/Casey. That would be Carl Romanelli.