Tea Party endorses Vod Varka
Way back when we first met Robinson machinist Joe Vod Varka as he was getting into the Senate race, I described the Democrat as having a "populist, almost tea-partyish" platform. Well, the Tea Party took notice. In its first-ever endorsement, the Philadelphia-based Independence Hall Tea Party PAC picked Vod Varka for the Democratic Senate primary.
"The endorsement was an easy decision," PAC Executive Board Member, Chris Thompson said in a news release. "Mr. Vodvarka represents what the Tea Party Movement is all about--limited government, fiscal responsibility, and lower taxes.
"His opponents, Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak, represent the antithesis of the Tea Party Movement. In voting for ObamaCare, they have demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt, their proclivity towards big government, fiscal irresponsibility, and higher taxes.
"We also had trouble understanding why Joe Sestak is trying to have Joe Vodvarka's name removed from the primary ballot. Just last month, Mr. Sestak was complaining that Mr. Specter and President Obama were trying to bribe him [Sestak] out of the race."
According to a national survey, 13 percent of Tea Party members are Democrats so this endorsement might actually account for a few votes -- and any anti-Specter votes going to a third candidate are bad for Sestak.
In case you missed it, Jim O'Toole profiled Vod Varka in Tuesday's Post-Gazette.