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U.S. Sen. John Kerry said it was a "last-minute ploy" for U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-8th dist.) to outline disagreements with President George W. Bush about the war in Iraq.
Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat who was his party’s presidential nominee in 2004, made his comments on Friday in a telephone conference call with reporters. The event was set up by the campaign of Patrick Murphy, Fitzpatrick’s Democratic opponent.
Earlier last week, Fitzpatrick said he wanted a new strategy in Iraq. He argued that Bush has not deployed enough troops and had underestimated the tenacity of the enemy. While he would like the president to give a general idea how long American troops will stay in Iraq, he opposes a specific deadline for withdrawal because that would empower the insurgents.
"It’s not leadership," Kerry said.
Murphy, a former captain in the U.S. Army, wants National Guard and Reserve troops home by the summer, with 50,000 other troops back by the end of the year and others redeployed to Iraq’s borders.
"We need to change the course in Iraq," he said.
Murphy and Kerry favor more focus on capturing Osama bin Laden and dismantling Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They believe the United States should use diplomatic and political tactics to stop the violence in Iraq.
Kerry dismissed Republican criticism that war opponents want to "cut and run," calling that a slogan, not a solution. The senator, who is expected to run again for president in 2008, thinks Murphy has credibility on war issues because of his military background and would be a welcome addition to Congress.
"We need him there," he said.
Joining reporters on the conference call were several liberal bloggers and Mike Conallen, Fitzpatrick’s chief of staff and campaign adviser. Conallen asked Murphy to agree to debates on specific issues such as the war in Iraq. So far, the campaigns have agreed only to traditional multi-subject debates.
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Former City Councilman Michael Nutter represented Northwest Philadelphia for more than 14 years, but said he tried to address citywide issues.
"I never considered my service just for the residents of the 4th Councilmanic District," he said.
Nutter, a Democrat who resigned on July 7 to run in the 2007 mayoral race, spoke on Friday at the Country Club Diner at the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Northeast Sunrisers.
The primary field will be crowded. Other possible candidates include state Rep. Dwight Evans, former City Controller Jonathan Saidel, U.S. Reps. Chaka Fattah and Bob Brady, businessman Tom Knox and union leader John Dougherty.
Nutter resigned from a safe Council seat to pursue the job of mayor.
"That’s how committed I am," he said.
On the issue of crime, he favors more aggressive policing to confiscate illegal guns and intervention efforts to give young people some hope.
Noting the high number of black-on-black murders, he said the city is experiencing a form of "black genocide." On average, there is more than one murder a day in the city, and the rate is higher than a year ago.
"We’re on the verge of four-hundred murders this year," he said.
On public education, he calls for smaller class size and a safer school environment. And he backs lower taxes for small neighborhood businesses.
Over the years, he’s pushed government ethics measures that have addressed no-bid contracts and campaign-donation disclosure rules. And in June, Council approved his bill that will ban smoking in most public places in the city. Mayor John Street has until Sept. 14 to sign the measure, but a spokesman for Street said Monday that the mayor has not indicated whether he will do so.
The bill will become law if the mayor takes no action on it, according to provisions in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.
Some have criticized Nutter for being too serious. He acknowledges that he’s not a smiling, sound bite-type of politician. He prefers to label himself an "ideas" guy.
"I’m not running for class clown. I’m running for mayor of Philadelphia," he said.
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Knox is asking city residents to join him in calling on the state legislature to allow the city to pass its own gun laws.
The candidate believes that local control of gun laws would stem the tide of illegal weapons on the streets, which he hopes could help reduce the murder rate.
"How many more studies and summits and proposals must there be before we — the people of this city — raise our voices and say no more?" he asked.
Knox has started a petition drive, which will be promoted on cable television and radio, to demand that the legislature give Philadelphia the right to control its gun laws.
On Sept. 26, Knox will travel to Harrisburg to deliver the petitions to the legislature, which will hold a summit on gun violence.
The petition can be viewed at www.stopphillygunviolence.com
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Maria Quinones-Sanchez understands that she doesn’t stand a good chance of being the Democratic Party choice if and when City Council President Anna Verna calls a special election in the 7th Councilmanic District.
Quinones-Sanchez wants the nod, but so do ward leaders Dan Savage (23rd) and John Sabatina (56th). The decision will be made by the ward leaders in the district, so it’s unlikely they’ll choose a community activist like Quinones-Sanchez. Many of the ward leaders have jobs that could be jeopardized if they don’t back the party’s choice.
"It has to be a ward leader, which is very unfortunate," she said on Sunday as she opened a campaign office at 851 E. Luzerne St. in Juniata Park.
Verna is expected to call a special election for Nov. 7, the day of the regularly scheduled election. Savage is favored to be the Democratic candidate. Gary Grisafi, a Castor Gardens resident who twice ran for the state legislature, is a possible Republican candidate.
Quinones-Sanchez and Sabatina ran in the 1999 primary, losing to incumbent Rick Mariano. The seat is vacant because Mariano was convicted on federal corruption charges. He began serving a six and a half year sentence earlier this month.
In May 2007, the three aforementioned Democrats and perhaps others will run in a primary for a full four-year term. Quinones-Sanchez, a Norris Square resident, has been preparing for that by knocking on 200 doors a day, talking to voters about issues such as crime, vacant houses, trash-strewn lots and small business development.
Calling herself an "independent" Democrat, Quinones-Sanchez said the district’s neighborhoods need a leader like her.
"We cannot afford Mariano II," she said.
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Another candidate planning ahead for next year is David Oh, a Republican who will seek an at-large Council seat.
Oh, a lawyer, ran in 2003. He finished ninth out of 12 candidates. The top seven were elected.
The co-chairmen of his exploratory committee are Robert Budica, chairman of the Far Northeast-based Agusta Aerospace Corporation, and Fred Anton, president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association.
In the at-large race, Democrats generally win five seats, with Republicans settling for the two seats that the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter guarantees to the minority party. To win, Oh would have to knock out one of the two incumbent Republican councilmen — Frank Rizzo or Jack Kelly. He finished almost 15,000 votes behind Kelly for the final spot in ‘03.
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Saidel last week campaigned door-to-door with Brendan Boyle, the Democratic candidate in the 170th Legislative District. Saidel, a Bustleton resident, lives in the district.
The two spoke to voters about issues such as property tax reform, a particularly important issue for senior citizens on fixed incomes.
Saidel, who is mulling a run for mayor next year, called Boyle "one of the best candidates I’ve ever seen run for office."
"Brendan will bring intelligence, dedication and integrity to the legislature," he said.
Boyle, who is in a rematch of two years ago with Republican Rep. George Kenney, said he was honored and proud to be supported by the former four-term controller.
"Jonathan stands for hard work, fairness and honesty, just like the rest of us in the Northeast," he said.
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John McDermott, the Constitution Party candidate in the 172nd Legislative District, is calling for the repeal of the legislation that legalized slot machine parlors.
McDermott, who is facing Republican House Speaker John Perzel and Democrat Tim Kearney, opposed the original bill. He believes the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has failed to advance slots because of questions surrounding money, conflict of interest and employee scandal.
The candidate blames Perzel.
"It’s no secret that John was a big proponent of legalizing slots in Pennsylvania, and there is no way that anyone can believe that the final legislation which passed didn’t have his fingerprints all over it," he said. "And if Perzel didn’t have the wherewithal to put together a decent enough package that would have held in check the antics of the PGCB, then he should be held to account for that." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com