As election day approaches and political analysis firm Cook Political Report notes trend toward Republican Senate control, Pennsylvania is on voters’ minds.
In the gubernatorial race, Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro appears to be in as good a position as any, with surveys showing him leading Republican State Sen. Doug Mastriano by double digits. The open U.S. Senate seat, which appeared to be Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s (D) to take, is now anyone’s game.
Because the results of Pennsylvania’s midterm elections could determine whether Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate, President Biden and former President Obama campaigned for Fetterman and Shapiro at Temple University in Philadelphia on Saturday, after Obama campaigned with Fetterman in Pittsburgh.
Former President Donald Trump campaigned for the GOP candidates on the opposite side of the state in Latrobe.
The doors opened at 1:30, although supporters had been queuing for hours.
Montgomery County resident, Loretta Williams, was sitting on a bench, taking a break from the line that wrapped around the block, when she told The Hill how excited she was to see the two presidents.
The main thing that drew me out today was the fact I could see them both together, campaigning at a rally,” Williams said. “It was exciting.”
Two Cheltenham locals, Paula Cohen and Elissa Siegel, were found in the rally’s front row, anxiously awaiting the speakers.
Cohen said her hope that seeing these types of people visit these communities will encourage more Democratic voters to vote on Tuesday.
Siegel said that she showed up in support of women and the right to choose. “This is an election for women,” Siegel said. “Women need to take charge of their bodies. It’s not between a government official, a doctor, and a woman.
It’s between a woman and her family and a doctor.”
Siegel emphasized the significance of this election as Republican candidates target subjects such as abortion. “They [Biden and Obama] are showing that it’s a really major election, and we need to keep the Senate Democratic,” she said. “I’m so glad that they’re out here.”
Marc Stier was outside the event talking to people in line about the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center’s 99% PA campaign, which aims to raise taxes on the wealthy while lowering taxes on the working class.
Stier contrasted today’s enthusiasm for Biden and Obama to that of 14 years ago, when Obama was a senator campaigning for president in the commonwealth. “It’s great to see Obama and Biden here,” Stier said. “There’s enormous enthusiasm, as you see today, and that’s what led to victory in 2008.”
SOURCE: www.hellovybes.com
