Romanelli Petition Update

As we proceed merrily along toward November 7th the Carl Romanelli petition saga also grinds on. The parties (Democrats, Greens, and Santorum supporters) gathered in court yesterday in a hearing to decide if the Green Party Senate candidate can be on the ballot. Democrats claimed 29,000 of the signatures aren't worthy which would leave the Green fellow 2,900 short of the 67,000+ required. The hearing will continue on September 25th. Do you see something ominous here?

I do. Each successive week this challenge continues is a week Carl Romanelli isn't on the ballot. A week he can't do any serious fundraising or campaigning. Who's going to write a check or volunteer if you haven't even qualified to be on the ballot? Meanwhile county electionboards are having to design their ballots and have them authorized so they can prepare for election day. What to do?

This entire effort has only served to make us Democrats appear awful. Bob Casey is paying staffers to be in Harrisburg all day instead of doing more productive work for the campaign. The free publicity Romanelli is receiving is exposure he never could have gotten himself. More and more voters are finding out this guy is in the race than EVER would have without this stupid challenge. Meanwhile fistfights and altercations have broken out giving even more publicity to the candidate.

Even if you discard 29,000 petition signatures Carl Romanelli will have gotten some 64,000 people to sign them asking he be put on the ballot. If democracy means anything this should qualify any candidate for a ballot. That's a ton of signatures. Do we Democrats want to be identified in voters minds with disenfranchisement? 64,000 Pennsylvanians said they think this man should be on the ballot. That should be more than sufficient.

Unfortunately for Romanelli though the clock is ticking inexorably toward November 7th.