BLENDING PENNSYLVANIA INTO THE COLOR PURPLE

The color purple, known in presidential politics as swing voters, has become the representation of Barack Obama's ability to blend America's Red-Blue politics into a bipartisan union. Voters have been looking for a candidate like Obama ever since 2003 when the "Red State - Blue State" dichotomy materialized across this nation. Obama's biography alone reflects what is needed to heal this division rather than to divide it ever further. Moreover, in light of Hillary Clinton's March 7th endorsement of Republican candidate John McCain's ability to lead America over Senator Obama capacity to do so, it's going to be difficult to unite the Democratic Party under a Clinton nomination in the fall. So I?m urging Pennsylvanians who call themselves conservative, and those who call themselves liberal, to stand together and vote for the best chance to find compromised solutions to the nations problems.


Senator Obama has served more years in elected positions than his Democratic opponent. During his eight years in the Illinois State Legislature he crossed party lines to expand health care to more than 150,000 parents and children, and spearheaded death penalty reform in Illinois that saved the lives of 13 people who were wrongfully sentenced to death row. At that level, and later in the United States Senate, Obama co-wrote ethic reform bills in Illinois and Capitol Hill. He also has more foreign policy experience than Bill Clinton had when they were elected President as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Veterans' Affair Committee. This bipartisan work has recently inspired the David Wilhelm, ex-campaign manager of President Clinton, to endorse Obama.


The people have bought in to his "pulpit personality" which resonates with liberals, conservatives and libertarians. His "Yes We Can" motto and mantra of "Hope" inspires African Americans, Latinos, women, veterans and the many other demographic divides. Finally, his declaration that this is an election about the "past verses the future" has inspired both the right and the left, and resembles the optimism that has been absent in voters since Robert Kennedy. Simply, Senator Obama's rhetoric represents a genuine change from the establishment. After being governed by fear and cheek arrogance for seven years, everyone is looking for something new in 2008. His Democratic opponent does not represent this freshness that we need.


Senator Clinton's "I'm ready on day one" argument has not vibrated with most voters. Additionally, Governor Ed Rendell is wrong to support her claim that Senator Obama doesn't have experience to lead this nation, especially, as he claimed on Meet The Press, that Clinton should become the nominee solely if she wins Pennsylvania on top of California, New York, Texas and Ohio. Rendell's an ardent Eagles fan, but if they were to beat New England, Green Bay, New York and Dallas, but lose every other game of their schedule, he would not insist that they make the NFL playoffs. Along with Clinton, it was those with many years in Washington who authorizes us to go to war in Iraq. And it is Clinton who touts foreign policy experience in 80 countries. Can she explain her involvement in Mogadishu and Rwanda? When those leaders failed to execute proper judgment that should have come from all that experience, they showed that they were sheep, not leaders, and certainly not Commanders. Our servicemen and women want a leader that has proven to be wise with judgment and good character on day one.

Voters across America have shown that change cannot be postponed any longer, especially in Virginia, where 10% of Republicans in their open primary voted for Senator Obama. The voters of the Commonwealth, a state that once was home of the Confederacy and once encompassed strong resistance to desegregation, has shown the country that it's not our great grandfathers Virginia anymore. His ability to narrow overwhelming leads in major primary states has also proven his bipartisanship.

Over the last month we have seen what change looks like across the country. In the forty-two days between the last primary in March and Pennsylvania's on April 22, Obama's stance on issues will sweep rapidly across Pennsylvania with town hall meetings and political rallies. More than any liberal, moderate or conservative candidate that have been in this election, Mr. Obama unites people around an authentic message of hope, optimism, service and change. In the process, and across all points of this vast country, he has brought together Democrats, Republicans and Independents to vote for him in 30 primary and caucus victories over Clinton's 14. Because of Senator Obama's candidacy, we can become the color purple. Nonetheless, since Pennsylvania is a closed primary, we need folks to register Democrat before March 24.