Guv Grappling

by Mary F. Patel

TV viewers got a heavy dose of political campaign propaganda this weekend, when Gov. Ed Rendell and Gov. Bill Richardson appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to spar over Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Rendell has been solidly behind Clinton, while Richardson, the governor of New Mexico and a former presidential contender himself, came out recently in support of Obama. He had served as Energy Secretary and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under Bill Clinton, and raised the Clintons' ire with the move.

Right now, Obama leads Clinton by 121 delegates; he is ahead in the popular vote and has won more states.

Both Rendell and Richardson agreed that the campaigns have gone negative. They discussed the Obama campaign's accusation that Bill Clinton was practicing McCarthyism by attacking Obama's patriotism.

"The Obama campaign tries to have it both ways. They say the campaign is too negative and then they go out and turn an innocent remark — Bill Clinton was saying what a lot of us feel. ... If they want to tone it down, don't accuse someone of McCarthyism," said Rendell.

Meanwhile, Rendell still can't seem to live down those remarks he made last month to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "You've got conservative whites here and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," the governor said.

Rendell defended his remarks on Fox by saying that Obama agreed with him, but conceded he may have created some collateral damage for the Clinton campaign.

Oliver Stone for Obama

Obama, it seems, has surpassed Clinton as the darling of the Hollywood left.

MoveOn.org, the liberal online organization promoting good government and denouncing corporate greed, is hosting a contest for a 30-second ad disseminating a new message on why voters should pick Obama, whom the group has endorsed.

The deadline is April 1 and the winner will receive a gift certificate good for $20,000 in video equipment. The ad will air on the Internet and on national TV.

The jury panel consists of various luminaries in the entertainment biz: Oliver Stone, Ben Affleck, Steve Buscemi, Matt Damon, Jesse Jackson, Moby, Heather Rae, Eddie Vedder and author Naomi Wolf.

Who's On First?

The Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club endorsed Larry Farnese in the race for the 1st District senate seat at its Monday night meeting. Most of the gay community's support had originally gone to incumbent state Sen. Vincent Fumo because of his long-term support for gay rights, but Fumo, under federal indictment for fraud and tax evasion, is facing health problems and is not running for re-election.

Anne Dicker and John Dougherty are also running for Fumo's seat, and wanted the endorsement.

Dougherty had challenged Farnese's nominating petitions in Commonwealth Court, but lost. Now Dougherty is appealing the lower court's decision to the state Supreme Court.

Dicker was recently endorsed by Philly for Change, a grassroots organization she helped found, as well as EMILY'S List, the Women's Campaign and Philly Now. Dougherty's been endorsed by numerous labor groups and, just this week, the Fraternal Order of Police.

Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal, a longtime Fumo supporter, said the Liberty City vote was "a nail in the coffin of Anne Dicker. She has lost her base. It highlights that there is no confidence in her campaign."

Dicker responded, "Mark Segal has lost his base and has no credibility."

Dicker, who has been open about her bisexuality, said she was not surprised that she did not receive the endorsement, citing internal politics, although she said she was respectful of Liberty City's decision.

This and That

Gov. Rendell was the keynote speaker Tuesday night at the annual meeting of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyer's Division held at G lounge in Center City. Scott P. Sigman was installed as the group's new chair.

The event was co-hosted by the Young Advocates for Mural Arts, a group of young professionals who support the city's Mural Arts Program.

Sigman, a moderate Republican, currently practices at the firm of Bochetto & Lentz. He is planning a run for district attorney next year.

(rcpatel@aol.com)