Dem delegates told rural areas key to Pa. win.
US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack tells Pennsyvlana delegates at the Democratic convention that they can win the state for the president by doing well in rural areas.
Dem delegates told rural areas key to Pa. win.
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Here’s a stratagem for Pennsylvania you don’t hear every day (OK, basically never) from Democrats: do well in the rural center, win the whole state.
“Central Pennsylvania is where the battle is going to be won,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said. “They can try to suppress the vote in the cities of Pennsylvania, and we can try to respond to that,” he said, referring to the state’s new voter ID law, “But it’s important to do well in the rural areas. If we do, it takes a lot of pressure off Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.”
Vilsack, a Pittsburgh native and the former governor of Iowa, said that farm production will be up this year despite widespread areas of drought. He noted that administration programs have poured money into farm country for rural housing and other benefits, and that the Affordable Care Act overhaul of health coverage is helping rural people.
“This president has invested more in rural America than any president since Franklin Roosevelt,” Vilsack said. “And the result of this is we are now faced with a rural economy stronger than people realized.”
Sen. Bob Casey, the chairman of the state’s delegation, said that in addition to re-nominating Obama and Vice President Biden, and enjoying each other’s company, the delegates had “serious business to transact” as carriers of campaign messages for the party.
“We have to make clear there are differences between us” and the Republicans, Casey said. “The difference on an issue like Medicare has never been more pronounced…The difference is this: We will preserve the guaranteed Medicare benefit. They will end it. It’s not that complicated, OK? So let’s not over complicate it.”
He was referring to the proposal in the budget plan advanced by GOP vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee from Wisconsin, that would replace the current program for future seniors with a voucher-like system, giving beneficiaries money to buy private insurance.
Citing economists’ studies of the proposal, the Democrats contend that the federal “premium support,” which is what the GOP prefers to term the vouchers would never keep up with medical inflation, putting a greater out-of-pocket burden on beneficiaries.
Just as Republicans have ZERO shot of winning Philly, Dems have ZERO shot of winning the rural PA vote.— kelprod2-freemarket- As Casey stated, ...carriers of the campaign message... What is the campaign message? The moronic pundits for the left on the Sunday talk shows could not even get their talking points correct when asked, Are you better off today than four years ago? This goes to show that the dems are vacuous if not down right risible.— junethe4th
- Hey junethe4th, take your head out of the sand. When this President took office, the GDP was at a 9% loss, the Country had lost 2 Million jobs, the stock market was about 6500, the thieves on Wall Street had run wild with no regulations, the auto industry was on life support, Bush had blown a 230 Billion Dollar surplus, the deficit had increased under Bush 89% to about 11 Trillion Dollars, and his tax policies for the wealthy had not created any jobs. Under this Administration, the private sector jobs have increased every month, the stock market is over 13,000, the middle class has received tax cuts, Corporations have more cash on hand than ever (unfortunately, they have not spent the money to create more jobs) the troops are back from a phony Bush war in Iraq, Bin Laden (who Bush, Cheney and their buddies couldn't find) is dead, more Americans than ever now can access health insurance, education opportunities (despite the Republicans trying to kill them) still exist and troops in Afghanistan now have a schedule to return. Sure, I agree that too many Americans are still hurting, but if Mitt the Fraud is elected, this Country will return to the dark days of the past with policies that have failed. You and I will pay more in taxes, while Mitt and his buddies pay less (and in his case almost nothing). My son and grandchildren will be handed a voucher to cover health insurance and so be at the mercy of insurance companies who are in the business of making money. And, Social Security will be at the mercy of the Wall Street criminals who are responsible for wrecking the economy. At my age, much of Mitt the Fraud's ideas won't affect me, but I fear for the future of the middle class and the welfare of my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.— lport
- Hey Iport I think you have been drinking too much port at the Made in America concert. Your tin foil hat is tightening up your brain.— YankeeFan#25
- Senator Casey is weak. Elect Tom Smith so we can get an Audit on the Federal Reserve- and work towards privatizing Social Security. http://www.senatorcaseyrecord.com/— RonPAuL878
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
