PBS-39 invited Charlie Dent and Siobhan Bennett to dinner with a family from Schnecksville. It was an intimate little affair; father Kevin, mother Krista, three young children ages 6 to 2, a camera crew, and a few thousand of their Lehigh Valley friends and neighbors. It wasn't all one big happy family, though, sitting around the kitchen table: Dent and Bennett visited on different nights.The idea was to have the candidates interact with real people while trying to win their vote. Titled "Pasta & Politics", the program airs this Thursday October 30 at 7:30 p.m, in conjunction with a candidates forum.
Kevin, who's a doctor, is a registered Republican, and Krista, who's a professor, is a registered Democrat; bet those are some food fights. Discussing issues without trying to get marinara sauce on their chin, each candidate did their best to convince Kevin and Krista to vote for them.
The big "reveal" will come at the end of the program when the family announces the winner.
I have no idea whether the Bennett campaign has any advance knowledge of the answer, but they certainly sound like they think their candidate came out on top. A very upbeat, "perky", press release that just arrived in my mailbox quotes Bennett as saying,"I wish I could sit down with every family over dinner and talk about the issues....I'd be honored to earn their vote."
Broadening the focus on this race beyond the Lehigh Valley, it's beginning to look like Bennett may be just as done as Krista's pasta. A search of websites that compile information on congressional races, turned up not one prediction that Bennett is going to win Dent's seat. From the NY Times to the Wasington Post, every source showed Dent holding on.
One of the easiest sites/maps to read and follow is Pollster.Com where they show the 15th solidly in the red column. Looks like Tip O'Neall may still be right...all politics is local: Even with what might be an Obama landslide starting to build, folks in the 15th Congressional District seem to be telling pollsters they're going to keep Congressman Dent.
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4 comments:
I know I'm voting Obama and Dent. Bennett does nothing for me and I doubt her skills in Congress. She should try for local office (again) before taking such a big leap.
By the way, Pam. I'd be curious to hear your take on Gen. Powell's endorsement. He appears to be very moderate, like yourself. You're a good columnist and I'd appreciate your view as well.
Anon 2:12,
You seem to be representative of the feeling of many L.V. Dems: They just aren't comfortable supporting Bennett.
If she does indeed lose on Nov. 4, it will be her third straight lost election without ever having a win. Most people at that point, would pack it in. However it won't surprise me to see her take your advice, and run again...for something.
As for General Powell's endorsement, it will suffice to say that I was disappointed but not surprised.
Disappointed because I know he and McCain have been friends for a long time, and he respects McCain's military acumen. After all, McCain was right about the Marines in Lebanon and right about the Surge.
I was not surprised because Powell is almost beyond "moderate". I've always considered him to be a Democrat in Republican clothing...much like Joe Lieberman on the other side. I think the appointment of Sarah Palin as V.P. nominee, put Powell over the edge.
i think bennett should lose ...but for agreeing to go on such a lame-ass television program. is there no sense of dignity left among politicians? pam, you might want to watch a tape of the Kennedy/Nixon debate. both used the language quite elegantly and neither resorted to today's gauchery of excessive use of the first person singular pronoun "I".
Anon 6:13,
At the risk of disclosing my age, I will tell you that I've already seen the Kennedy-Nixon debate...the first time it aired.
No question that even though politics was even then a rough and tumble game, the public face of politicians was much more genteel, "elegant" is also a good word, and much more about the country and the issues.
The current game of personal attacks and "gotcha" journalism has not served anyone well.
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