The Party's Party

by Mary F. Patel

Gov. Ed Rendell must have been livid last Monday night when his preferred candidate for president was given just 10 minutes to make her stump speech to hundreds of the party faithful gathered at the Sheet Metal Union Hall for the Democratic City Committee's spring fundraiser — especially considering that, after Hillary Clinton, Rendell and fellow supporter Michael Nutter departed, her opponent, Barack Obama, was granted a half-hour.

Rendell and Nutter stood onstage with Clinton during her brief remarks about the importance of grassroots support.

Elliott Curson (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

Because ward leaders in the city's Democratic Party had opted not to endorse a candidate, both could attend this pre-primary fundraiser. It was not clear how it was decided that Clinton would appear first and leave so quickly, and that Obama would arrive almost two hours later to great fanfare.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, still commander in chief of the party, is said to be supporting Obama. Other wards have made their own endorsements — 27th Ward leader Carol Jenkins said her ward went for Obama, too.

One theory floating around the fundraiser was that the party had not been able to make an endorsement because neither campaign had pledged "street money" — Election Day funds for ward leaders and committee people,

Harry B. Cook, vice president of InfoVoter Technologies, the company that runs the MYVOTE1 voter hotline, noted the many new faces in the crowd. But the usual party rank and file were there as well.

Jim Quinn, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, which organized the event, said his union had set up a VIP tent outside the hall for Clinton and Obama to speak separately to the high rollers who gave $1,000 to hobnob. The regular ticket price was $150.

Committee people, the real foot soldiers of the party, were not invited.

Inside the hall, the night began with Clinton, who was followed by a half-hour break, and the introduction of local and state candidates. Then, as a long wait commenced, the crowd grew antsy and the bars crowded. Former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford was asked to make some remarks — a poor choice, as he was never one to energize an audience. When Obama finally stepped out of the VIP tent and into the main hall, the crowd erupted.

With all the excitement of the presidential election, local races are staying under the radar, with one exception: the state Senate 1st District race.

With state Sen. Vincent Fumo out, the three Democrats running for his seat include IBEW Local 98 busi-ness manager John Dougherty, attorney Larry Farnese and local activist Anne Dicker, whose two top aides left her campaign this past weekend.

Dougherty is the endorsed candidate of the Democratic City Committee, having received the nod from ward leaders in the district. At Monday's fundraiser, he stood on stage and, smiling, was recognized by Brady.

It must have been a fun moment for Dougherty. Just a couple of years ago, he and Brady had a major falling out, because Brady and other ward leaders feared Dougherty was trying to take over the party by running members of his electricians' union against committee people. Dougherty was asked to step down from his position as party treasurer.

Another reason for Dougherty to feel pleased was the fact that he may very well replace his longtime nemesis, Fumo, in the state Senate.

(rcpatel@aol.com)