A Jersey ringer in a Pennsylvania Clinton ad

Barack Obama can take some solace out of Hillary Clinton’s latest television ad in Pennsylvania. At least one of those featured in the spot hammering Obama for his recent -- and controversial -- critique of bitter small town America isn’t registered to vote in Pennsylvania.

Clyde Thomas, the goateed fellow in the ad who says, “the good people of Pennsylvania deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said,” is actually registered in New Jersey. He voted there for Clinton Feb. 5. He only recently moved to Bethlehem, Pa.

“It shouldn’t be a big deal. I explained it to the campaign,” Thomas said in an interview. “I see Pennsylvanians for what they are. I grew up with the values of Pennsylvanians.”

Thomas said he was born in Scranton, but until recently had lived his entire life in Somerville, N.J. He is a 46-year-old unemployed environmental engineer.

He said he has been volunteering for the Clinton campaign in recent weeks, handing out literature and making phone calls. He said the campaign approached him about appearing in the ad, which was filmed in Bethlehem, a city of about 72,000 residents in eastern Pennsylvania where Bethlehem Steel once stood tall.

Thomas added that he plans to get on Pennsylvania's voting rolls ahead of the November election.

-- Josh Drobnyk

Josh Drobnyk writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau.

Comments

[Danny]

I am sure that the people that were in Hillary Obama bashing Obama were her supporters. I found that the guy who moved to Pennsylvania voted for Clinton in New Jersey. Another Clinton dishonest action comes to the surface. It will be funny if she only wins by a couple of percentage points. I have no problem with a woman president. I just want one who is honest. Obama has honesty and integrity as as much as a politician can have. I do not like the comments his pastor said. Being a Christian I think his profession adn attitudes are not connecting. As a Christian you are suppose to be forgiving. He is not a forgiver or a healer. I will pray for his redemption. I think Obama will be a good president if given the chance. I think he has more positive qualities than negative. I was not offended by his coments I think he was just trying to speak the truth.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Deceit in the Clinton campaign? Impossible.