Bye-Bye to Another Bat-Villian

In an unsurprising move, Upper Darby Police Chief Michael Chitwood officially dropped out of the race he never officially entered in the first place.

Choice Quotes from the Delco Times article:
"Congressman Sestak and the Democrats don’t have to worry about me," Chitwood said. Duh! We didn't worry about him before.

Chitwood said the scales really tipped on his decision against the congressional bid about three weeks ago during a search for a 4-year-old girl who had gone missing in the Stonehurst section of Upper Darby. Me thinks 5 weeks ago Chitwood saw that Sestak had 1.4 Million in the bank.

The Times noted that "Chitwood has also several times expressed a dislike for fundraising. Sestak apparently does not share that outlook — as of October, the freshman congressman had a war chest of more than $1,420,000."


"It's too early to think about the election; Joe is focused on change from Iraq and the economy to health care," said Sestak spokesman Clarence Tong upon hearing news of Chitwood's decision. Too early to think about election? When during raising the 1.4 mill did Joe stop thinking about re-election? Spokesman is a crappy job, like a pimp without the cool hat.


Finally:
Delaware County Republican Party leader Thomas Judge Sr. said Tuesday a few other potential candidates had also recently fallen off, but there are about three names left on a "short list" of possible Sestak challengers the party is still looking at.

"Nothing's been formalized yet, but we are looking at some individuals," he said.

individuals = "lambs to the slaughter"

Three New Bat-Villains

In today's Philadelphia Daily News, Bill Bender takes a peek at three new names being floated to take on Sestak, especially Michael Chitwood.

Chitwood confirmed yesterday that he has been asked by Upper Darby Republican leader John McNichol to consider running for Congress.

If McNichol is backing him, what's McNichol hoping to get out of it? The GOP is certainly desperate to knock out Sestak now, while he is still a freshman, and they perceive him as vulnerable. (Clue: Joe was most vulnerable last year when he had no money, no name recognition, no political experience and running against a popular 20 year incumbent.)

Also on the list are John McMeekin II, a Philadelphia attorney and Radnor school board member, and Stephen Elliott, a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. State Department.

McMeekin said he is "very serious" about a congressional bid, but would back anyone the GOP selected. Elliott could not be reached for comment.

How serious is McMeekin if he will just go along with whomever the GOP machine picks? There's a little thing called a Primary for those that are "very serious".

The rest of the article focuses mostly on Upper Darby Police Chief, Chitwood. (Let me guess, he's going to run on a platform of "law and order".) I don't know a lot about Chitwood's politics (yet) and it's unclear how his local experience will translate on nation issues like energy policy, education, Iraq, environment and health care. I wonder if he is for or against gun control. Does he think that terrorism is a military or police matter? Would people be concerned that a cop-turned-legislator would be a good defense against the trend to turn the US into a police state?

The article also mentions that Chitwood turned down an opportunity early last year to enter the gubernatorial race in Maine, where he had served as a police chief.

Now, that is interesting. Would the former Weldon-zombies repeat their chant of "carpet-bagger"? While I suspect that Chitwood is tough-as-nails and in good shape for his age, that I doubt he is ready to run a marathon campaign. Chitwood is 63 and I doubt he can maintain the same level of energy as Sestak (who outlasted his staff of twenty-somethings).

My recommendation for Chitwood: end your career with successes in Upper Darby, not as a sacrificial lamb for the Delco GOP machine.