Let the debates begin. Bob Casey Junior, after arrogantly refusing to engage in primary election debates, claiming he would wait and see if his opponents qualified for the ballot, must now face the fact they have and live up to his agreement to debate once this transpired.
Chuck Pennacchio and Alan Sandals both filed nominating petitions in Harrisburg on Monday. Pennacchio amassed over 4200 signatures and Sandals 4600. The minimum to qualify was 2000.
Now that all three candidates are officially filed it's time to engage in full debates. Bob Casey can no longer duck out on the issues in this election.
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While the Sandals campaign used paid circulators to get their petitions signed the large grassroots organization behind Chuck Pennacchio did his all by themselves. Without the backing of county Democratic Committees over 220 volunteers from 32 counties solicited signatures for Chuck.
One volunteer got 280 people to sign petitions. One volunteer drove all the way from Lackawanna County to Philadelphia last Sunday to deliver completed petitions. This shows the depth of commitment these people have to Pennacchio and their strong desire for change in Washington. Not just cosmetic change but a complete change in direction by our U.S. Senator.
With women's reproductive rights in serious jeopardy and the War in Iraq spiraling out of control it's more important than ever to elect someone who will stand up in Washington and be heard. Someone committed to universal health care, a living wage, union organizing rights, embryonic stem cell research, equal rights, quality education and fiscal responsibility.
Debates can now go forward and the decision put in the hands of the Democratic voters of Pennsylvania. They want to hear where these three men stand on the issues they care about. They deserve the right to listen to all three on the same stages around this Commonwealth.
It's time for Casey to stand by his word he would debate once the petition period concluded.