Clout Extra: Election Day shenanigans and skulduggery

LAST MONTH, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a New Jersey Republican, denounced Donald Trump - for obvious reasons - and said he would write in a vote for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence:

"Saying this election has been incredibly disappointing is an understatement," LoBiondo said. "I have repeatedly and strongly spoken out against Mr. Trump when he degrades and insults women, minority groups and Gold Star military families. I will not vote for a candidate who boasts of sexual assault. It is my conclusion that Trump is unfit to be president."

But intrepid staff reporter Amy S. Rosenberg learned Tuesday that LoBiondo apparently had a change of heart. On Monday. Just in time!

LoBiondo spokesman Jason Galanes confirms: "He did vote for him. He decided yesterday he would vote for him." About a month ago, "details" about Trump's comments changed his mind. But he decided in the end to vote for Trump, Galanes said.

"His disappointment and anger over Trump's words stands, but Secretary Clinton is 100 percent unacceptable to be president," Galanes said.

So Rosenberg went on over to LoBiondo's house in Ventnor to ask about this vote. LoBiondo nearly lost his side-view mirror trying to get away. With his two dogs (Weimaraners) in the back seat.

We'll take that as a no comment, Congressman?

Clout usually avoids sign-theft stories, because it happens every election. But when the police get involved, so do we. This yarn from ace reporter Stephanie Farr is pretty juicy:

Farr reports that the vehicle of a Northeast Philadelphia man who was caught stealing campaign signs on the eve of the election was confiscated by police after officers discovered it was unregistered.

Stephen Amato, 46, of the 12000 block of Cabell Road, was arrested for theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing five lawn signs in support of State Rep. Martina White, according to police and court records. FOP Lodge 5 President John McNesby - whose union strongly supports White - said more than 100 lawn signs for White started disappearing across Northeast Philadelphia about a week ago.

"Every time they'd go up, they came down," McNesby said.

Political sources tell Clout the number could be much higher.

Officers on routine patrol around 9:30 p.m. Monday on the 12000 block of Academy Road saw a stopped car in the road blocking traffic and went to investigate. The officers saw Amato putting red-and-white election signs for White into the trunk of his 1997 Nissan Altima, police said. When approached by the officers, Amato allegedly turned over the signs and police confiscated his unregistered car.

The signs were returned to White. McNesby said White, who has introduced cop-friendly legislation, personally went to the Northeast Detective Division on Monday night to thank the officers. "That was really noticed," McNesby said. What a lovefest.

Police did not release a motive for the theft. McNesby said he'd heard the offender gave a full statement to police in which he claimed to have been paid to steal the signs by White's opponent's campaign. Dan Kalai, campaign manager for Matt Darragh, White's opponent in the race, flatly denied that claim.

"The Matt Darragh campaign would never and has never paid anyone to steal a lawn sign," Kalai said. "Any allegations the campaign was involved in this in any way, shape or form are unequivocally false."

An attorney for Amato was not listed on court records, and he did not return a request for comment left with his son.

Clout also has heard rumors that a rival labor union might have been involved in the theft, but we haven't been able to pin that down. At least Amato didn't try to steal the giant White sign hanging on that 18-wheeler parked illegally on an I-95 overpass. That'd be grand theft auto.

The political lesson here? Don't steal signs from the FOP's favorite candidate.

... And the award for best campaign literature goes to the 60th Ward Dems in West Philly, who apparently hung a "Stop Trump" gem at Andrew Hamilton School.

Always read the fine print, people say. Now we know why. It reads:

"Trump thinks Philly has to cheat to kick his butt at the polls. All we have to do is vote and make sure everyone else does. Our vote is the foot we're going to use to put in Trump's butt."

How eloquent!

The sign is attributed to 60th Ward leader Greg Spearman and chairperson Brenda Reavis, both American heroes.

- Staff writers Amy Rosenberg, Stephanie Farr, and William Bender contributed to this column.

Phone: 215-854-5255

Twitter: @wbender99

Email: benderw@phillynews.com