Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

by Jonathan Singer, Sat Mar 11, 2006 at 12:49:53 PM EST

Last week, rumors began to swirl surrounding the possibility that long time pro-choice activist Kate Michelman would enter the Pennsylvania Senate race as an independent, potentially making Democrat Bob Casey's challenge to GOP Sen. Rick Santorum more difficult. But as Benjamin Y. Lowe reports for The Philadelphia Enquirer, a Michelman candidacy is not to be.

Abortion-rights activist Kate Michelman won't run in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race.
Despite pressure from abortion-rights supporters, the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America said she would not be an independent candidate in the November election, which will likely feature two candidates who oppose abortion: Democrat Bob Casey Jr. and incumbent Republican Rick Santorum.
"Despite profound and fundamental differences, I have decided that Pennsylvania will be better served by electing Bob Casey to the U.S. Senate than giving his opponent another term," Michelman wrote in an op-ed to be published in The Inquirer on Sunday. "I do this knowing that I may forever regret not responding one more time to the clarion call of principle."

Bob Casey is not the most exciting Democratic Senate candidate in the country this year, nor is he the most progressive, but at this point, a Democratic victory in Pennsylvania is necessary for the party to have any shot at retaking the Senate in November.

In order for the Senate intelligence panel to open real investigations into the White House's case to go to war in Iraq or the Bush administration's domestic wiretapping program, Casey pretty much needs to win this fall. If the Senate Budget Committee is going to refrain from making cuts to essential programs like foodstamps and Medicare, it's almost necessary that Casey defeats Santorum. If Senate Democrats are to have the ability to vote down extreme conservatives to the federal bench, Casey almost certainly needs to win. (Even if Casey does not support such tactics, a Democratic Senate -- and thus a Democratic Judiciary Committee -- could ensure that extremist nominees never see the light of day.)

Would Kate Michelman have added to the race? Would she have made a good Senator? The answer to both of these questions is probably yes. Nevertheless, in the interest of increasing the likelihood that the Democrats win back the United States Senate in November, it's good to see that she will not make an independent bid and help split the Democratic vote against Rick Santorum, thus helpind deliver the Senate Republican Conference Chairman another six years in Washington.

Tags: PA-Sen, Senate 2006 (all tags)

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Here Here

I am pleased that Michelman is more concerned with the welfare of America and Pennsylvania, than with her ego.

HEY RALPH, YOU HEAR THAT!?

by jkfp2004 2006-03-11 01:36PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

Now if only Chuck Pennachio could drop out . . . .

by jiacinto 2006-03-11 01:38PM | 0 recs

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Let him run

I got no problem if he wants to run in the Dem. primary, as long as he endorses whoever wins it.

by jkfp2004 2006-03-11 01:48PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

Maybe she can run in 2010. I doubt Specter's going to run again, so it'll probably be an open seat. Failing that, someone might have to run against Casey in a primary in 2012, a la Lamont.

by Gpack3 2006-03-11 02:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: NARL is useless

To bad she didn't run - just shows that NARL is politically dead meat. She should of run.

by mwfolsom 2006-03-11 04:21PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

This isn't enough. If she wants to heed that clarion call, she should start campaigning and fundraising for Pennachio.

Let there be a true hearing in the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania. People should line up behind their candidates and fight it out.

Disclaimer: I have the most superficial of opinions on Casey v Pennachio. My advocacy here is in favor of contested primaries and against political machines.

by Bill Rehm 2006-03-11 06:21PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

So a Democrat is set to win this seat after all. Mr. Stoller must be unconsolable.

by Epitome23 2006-03-11 08:50PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

I think it is sad that too many Democrats are too quick to celebrate this capitulation. The truth is that the Democrats have had 6 years to fix the spoiled system.

There is no "spoiler" Nader problem which couldn't be fixed with Instant Runoff Legislation. So far the Democrats, the old guard, in power have refused to pass legislation to end the problem represented by the potential bid of Michelman.

Smart Democrats see this as another train crash avoided, but realize these calls to loyalty can go on for only so much longer.

There is a limit to which people will continue to submerge their values in order to cater to the illusion that the 2 party system works, that there is any significant difference between the 2 heads of the same party.

As more and more people become aware there is a solution they will have less patience with the demand that they acquiesce because the wolf is at the door.

For more information go to www.fairvote.org and my diaries at http://www.dailykos.com/user/jim%20d

by jimd 2006-03-11 10:06PM | 0 recs

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Re:I'll bet she had polling data

I'll bet she had polling data that showed her coming in third and Casey still comfortably ahead. So then,
which is better, withdraw and endorse Casey or stay in and be embarrassed by your showing in Nov? Had she stayed in, IMHO, she would've finished a distant third and done more damage to NARAL's already diminished influence. I'm sure that's why she got out.

by phillydem 2006-03-11 10:37PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

Having Michelman in the race just meant that Pennsylvania voters who actually believe in women's reproductive rights (versus those who just mouth the words) would have a box to check. Now we're all back to writing in or leaving that section of the ballot blank.

I wonder if David Duke were a Democrat, would white D's expect AAs to vote for him, "for the good of the party".

by MBW 2006-03-12 03:29AM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

Do you really believe it's fair to compare Bob Casey and David Duke? Really?

by Jonathan Singer 2006-03-12 02:21PM | 0 recs

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Re: Michelman Drops Potential Indie Bid in PA-Sen

You don't? They both believe in the superiority of their postion, male and/or white. Actually, Duke believes non-whites are inferior - Casey believes women to be property.

Men need to really step back and understand what exactly removing the right of women to control their own bodies means, particularly when that loss of control puts both their health and lives at risk. Really, honestly think about it on its basest level.

Then come back and tell me there's a difference between a hard-core anti-choice candidate and a white supremist one. (And I say that as both a woman and a non-white.)

by MBW 2006-03-12 03:35PM | 0 recs