Brad Koplinsky racks up the endosements

Most endorsements are good for a press release and not much else unless they bring in money or boots on the ground. That's why union endorsements are so important in the PA Dem primary.

Harisburg  City Councillor Brad Koplinski has few dozen friends.

Brad Koplinski Announces Another 86 Endorsements For His Campaign For Lt. Governor With 204 Total Democratic Statewide Endorsements from 54 Counties

Former State Treasurer and  Auditor General Barbara Hafer; Former Congressman Joe Hoeffel Tops List of Endorsers

Today, an additional 86 elected and Democratic Party officials throughout Pennsylvania, led by former Pennsylvania Treasurer and Auditor General Barbara Hafer and former U.S. Congressman Joe Hoeffel endorsed Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski’s campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

The list of Democratic Party officials endorsing Koplinski now includes 25 Democratic County Chairs, 53 additional members of Democratic State Committee, 20 Countywide Elected Officials, 30 Mayors and dozens of municipal and former elected officials.

In giving his endorsement, York County Democratic Chair Bob Kefauver said, “I have known Brad for many years and know that Pennsylvania can trust him to do the right thing.  He is a pragmatic progressive and will make an excellent running mate to defeat Tom Corbett.”

Councilman Koplinski said upon the release of the list, ““I am proud and grateful for the support of these distinguished leaders of the Democratic Party.  I am especially honored to have the backing of Former Treasurer & Auditor General Hafer, Former Congressman Hoeffel and over one-third of the state’s County Democratic Chairs.  Our campaign for Lt. Governor is building strength every day and we will continue to work until we reach the goal of beating Tom Corbett in November 2014.”

The list of new endorsements is below – the full list can be found at www.Koplinski2014/endorsements

The Luzerne County list:

Frank Coughlin – Councilman, Borough of Plymouth
William Dixon – Councilman, Borough of Plymouth
Dan Hartman – Democratic State Committeeman
Dan Lello – Mayor, Borough of Dupont
Clif Madrack – Councilman, Borough of Plymouth
Keith Moss – Mayor, Duryea Borough
Rebecca Sammon – President, Pennsylvania Young Democrats & Democratic State Committeewoman

Don Bailey for Attorney General

Former Congressman and Auditor General Don Bailey is running for PA Attorney General. He represented the 21st CD for 2 terms from 1979 to 1983 then lost to John Murtha after his district was merged with Murtha's after the 1982 redistricting. He made a comeback winning the 1984 Auditor General race but then lost a series of elections getting beat in the 1986 Senate primary then lost his bid for reelection to Barbara Hafer in 1988. He tried to regain the office in 1992 but lost in the primary then lost a bid for governor in 1998. Since then he has been a civil rights attorney.

Third Democrat emerges in Pa. attorney general race


"I have simply become fed up with what I feel is a pervasive level of corruption in Pennsylvania," he said in an interview Tuesday. "The Attorney General's Office has been a do-nothing office for too long."...Bailey acknowledged his late entrance could relegate his candidacy to long-shot status....His Harrisburg-based civil-rights law practice has occupied most of his time during the last decade, he said. Focused on representing whistle-blowers, Bailey describes himself as an "equal-opportunity suer."

PoliticsPA: But he’s also run into some professional trouble. He came close to being disbarred in 2011, accused by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of bringing frivolous lawsuits.

I don't think he will have much of an impact on the race as Patrick Murphy and Kathleen Kane have been running for months and have banked some big bucks. He's counting on name recognition but hasn't won an election in 28 years so only old political junkies like me and the Yonk even remember the guy.

Pennsylvania Auditor General

Auditor General has been a steeping stone to higher office in recent years. The incumbent is Jack Wagner who term limited and ran in the Democratic primary for Governor in 2010 losing out to Dan Onorato who was defeated by Republican Tom Corbett. Wagner has received good reviews for his work as the state's fiscal watchdog so expect to hear from him again in the 2014 governor's race.

Auditor Generals that have achieved higher office include Governor Robert P. Casey and his son Senator Bob Casey. Since 196o the Democratic candidate has won the office 11 out of 13 times with Barbara Hafer being the only Republican to interrupt that run. Hafer later became a Democrat.

So far there a 2 declared candidates for the office. Democratic State Rep Eugene DePasquale from York County and Republican Chester County Treasurer Ann Duke . DePasquale was one of 36 Democrats to vote for the Congressional gerrymander in the State House. See Pennsylvania Progressive for his explanation. The attitude that legislators are in Harrisburg, or Washington, for that matter, to vote their Districts is sad. If that were the case we wouldn't need elections or legislators. As Edmund Burke said:

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

Somehow the abortion hotheads are mixed up in this race according to PoliticsPA. What the hell has abortion got to do with adding up columns of numbers?