While former Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, he was a vicious campaigner. He never lost a race. "There's only two ways to run, hard or unopposed," he once told me. Lehigh County Exec Phil Armstrong is also a nice guy. So nice that I call him Grandpa. I love his folksy weekly broadcasts, which remind me of Mayor Tommy Shanks. But unlike Dent or his counterpart in Northampton County, Phil has failed to do what he needs to insure victory on November 2. He's raised nowhere near the amount of money an incumbent Exec can garner. He's failed to point out the numerous negatives in his Republican opponent, Glenn Eckhart, who originally was running simply because no one else wanted the job. And now, Phil could lose.
Democrats have virtually no ground game in Lehigh County. Republicans, in stark contrast, are energized by Biden's blunders and a face mask mandate at area schools. Turnout is expected to be heavy in certain school board races like Southern Lehigh, with write-in candidates in addition to those who are on the ballot. On top of that, the 911 lawsuit appears to have energized Latino activists. Though the lawsuit appears to be groundless, it's never a good thing when Democratic activists call for your resignation the week before an election. It's hardly a good thing when they complain about lack of representation in the county a week before an election in which the only two Latino Commissioner candidates just happen to be Republicans.
Phil appears to have made the mistake of taking his opposition lightly and it might cost Lehigh County an excellent Exec.
In fairness, I thought Phil made that mistake the first time he ran. The weekend before the election, I caught him sitting at a good government conference in Northampton County, instead of knocking on doors and making calls in Lehigh.
"Are you out of your mind?"I asked. He smiled and petted an imaginary dog. He went on to win big, but that was in a climate in which Democrats were energized. It's the opposite this time.
13 comments:
Sure wish Phil was running in Northampton Co9nty. Instead we are stuck with McClure or Lynch. Two of the least likable people around.
The democratic party has killed itself with it's position on almost every issue--on the local level school boards have taxed people to death with very little results local goverments spend money in a very useless way in many instants. I will not even get inti Biden and his left wing agenda. So the democratic party has done itself in and will pay for it in the future elections.
Interesting perspective on Armstrong. As to Dent, however…..”one of nicest guys…” You are talking about the same Charlie Dent who walked out on his constituents of all parties?
As a NorCo voter, I also lament our choices vs Lehigh's. Our candidates are as rotten as it gets.
F&M poll just released has Biden at 32% approval in PA. Yikes! It has Wolf at 42%. Unfortunately, here in Northampton County the GOP just conceded the exec race by running Lynch. A good candidate would have been able to take advantage of the Dems falling poll numbers.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/10/president-bidens-job-approval-is-dropping-in-pa-fm-poll.html
@ 5:45 I agree. On the national level they are trying to govern like they have huge majorities that they don't have. Someone convinced Biden to handcuff the bipartisan infrastructure bill to the huge social spending bill with illusions that he could be a modern day FDR. Huge mistake! Now the thing went from 6 trillion to 3.5 trillion to 1.75 trillion to who knows? Manchin is right, we have our two main trust funds in SS and medicare that need major attention, yet we're spending on more programs we can't afford right now. I was a democrat for most of my life but lately I don't even recognize the party anymore.
5:45 The democrats should pay for what they are doing to the people of the United States --I hope the people realize this and vote as many out of office as is possible.
Politicians are bad people both sides are bad this system breeds these people--on all levels of government
We hope Armstrong is in trouble--all he could do was yell at girls --he acted like a real _ss hole. hero coach
Armstrong back to Whitehall work on tax scandal with Harakal and his sister Gober Where is the money BIG COVER UP GOING ON IN WHITEHAll
Hope Andy ROMAN WINS IN WHITEHALL he is going after this cover up WHERE IS THE MONEY???
Roman notoriously slings mud. He did the same thing to the former Sheriff. The no show candidate.
Your spot on. Armstrong will probably win but it will be much closer than he wants it to be. Republican turnout is going tick up with suburban school board races. Democrats are ignoring the city. If Eckart raised more money Phil would be in serious trouble. This 911 thing is political opportunism of a tragedy by Republicans (holding a press conference about it?) but it just might stick. If it does Phillips could be in trouble. He should be running away with this as a likeable incumbent but he hasn't. Don't sleep on other thing impacting that race. The open Allentown Mayoral race. Tuerk is gonna win but Ramos is competitive and working hard. Tuerk should win. He's a well qualified and strong candidate. If a whack job came out of the Allentown primary Ramos would have a fighters chance. Latino support of Republicans is surging nationwide. But Tuerk is strong. Will make a great Mayor. Republicans have a diverse ticket all working hard. Two woman Rivera and Colon particularly. Surprisingly City Democrats like Pete Schweyer and the worse elected official in the entire Lehigh Valley Mark Pinsley have been spending a lot of time personally organizing canvassing efforts in Upper Mac and SWT. A bold strategy. Pinsley who constantly campaigns for other positions instead of actually doing the job he's in is looking out for himself trying to raise name ID in the burbs.
One place the strategy maybe makes sense is in Upper Mac where D's could pickup a Supervisor seat in a Republican stronghold. But that's more on strength of hyper local issues vs. party trends. The SWT Commissioner race? That's a lost cause for D's. Those voters are tossing out every incumbent. There is a real movement in South Whitehall and the better candidates all happen to be Republicans this time around. Maybe Dems think they can win open County District 2? District 5 is probably the better target for them. Joyce Moore is outworking Dutt who was appointed.
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