As Pennsylvania yields the spotlight, how badly will it want it back?

Thanks to a Hillary Clinton "bio" ad shown endlessly on local television screens, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians now know Scranton less as a town whose best days were in the 19th century and more as the site of her bucolic childhood summer vacations. (We wonder if tourism will increase there this July and August?)

Meanwhile, in Johnstown, Pa., what must be a perennial preoccupation -- how to fill up spare time during the weekend -- was easily answered this Sunday: Attend a Clinton rally!

Across the state in Philadelphia, chances are that many of those among the more than 35,000 people who thronged into downtown Friday night to hear Barack Obama speak -- and then joined in an impromptu parade through city streets -- will be talking about the communal occasion for months to come.

And it's likely to be years before the denizens of such out-of-the-way* burgs as Moon Township, Lock Haven, Clearfield and Connellsville forget what they now have in common: destinations on the itinerary of a certain former president willing to go the extra mile (or two, or 10, or 100) to help his wife win the Pennsylvania primary.

In material terms, it doesn't get much better than to have been a TV ad executive over the last month and a half or so in the Keystone State. Not much call for long hours the rest of the year --- not with Obama reportedly spending more than $9 million to make his case on the airwaves, and Clinton close to $4 million.

Our point is this:

 

After the intoxicating and enriching (literally) experience that Pennsylvania has just gone through, after its citizens have found that what's on their minds is of vital importance (at least until the polls close at 8 EDT tonight) to a couple of folks vying for the most powerful office in the world, how can the state ever content itself with a sideline role in future presidential campaigns?

Same with Texas and Ohio, which went through a more compressed, but no less frenzied, courtship with the candidates not so long ago. And won't North Carolina, Indiana, West Virginia, Oregon, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota -- locales of looming battles in the Democratic marathon -- share this feeling?

How the end game plays out between Obama and Clinton remains shrouded in doubt (for snippets from their last full day on the trail in Pennsylvania, see below). But beyond that, after the excitement stirred in state after state by their battle, how on Earth are Democratic and Republican leaders going to rejigger the nominating system to take into account the sense of empowerment that so many voters have tasted this time around -- and probably will want to replicate?

Just asking, as we await the next turn in this now-epic primary season.

-- Don Frederick

* We stand corrected on this phrase, thanks to reader comments. We appreciate the help. 

Comments

[Dr. Jesse Kally-Williams]

Leadership? Hilary? The one who wept and broke down when the going gets tough? The candidate who complains of media favouritism, now attacking her opponent for whining? Professional politicians abuse the intellect of American voters! Only a radical change can reform this system.

[Obamamania]

Obama is our Savior. After watching “typical white people” grill Obama during the debate, I realized that Obama, Ayers, and Reverend Wright are Right, God D*** america. Now is the time to rally around Barak and Michelle and make them proud! These poor bitter rural white folk with their guns and phony religion who are afraid of people not like themsleves should not be allowed to vote. Yes, no more so called elections where typical white people vote! And news flash america, Barak is right, your typical white american is a racist! Obama will apologize to our Muslim brothers for arrogant american policies of hate and slavery. Only Obama can forgive an evil nation founded on slavery. White people, no more gun purchases, save your money cause reparations are comin! Obama 08!!!

[Ron]

You can thank Obama for the excitement... If Hillary and Bill Clinton steal this nomination from Obama, I guarantee you the most boring election in November where a lot of people will drop out and not even vote. It's a shame really because the Republicans did such a good job in helping Clinton try and destroy Obama. She took the bait.

[Richard Prieto]

The term "hyperbole" comes to mind here, Don. While certainly a first, I personally fail to see where this primary has turned epic. Each season, a state or even a particular county becomes the focal point of the nation, both during the primary or during the general election. There is nothing new about that and certainly nothing epic. What we see here is nothing more than media hype for a frankly dull and practically all-but-certain Democratic primary race. Obama will win his party's nomination and square off against McCain for the White House. That's when the race will become truly epic.

[julio]

We need a national primary election day.

[rightcoastdem]

The DNC must do everything it can to prevent "frontloading" in the primary season. This is problematic of course because states and state parties have a role to play. Since that's unlikely to change any time in my lifetime, perhaps what the DNC should do is either adopt the Republican system- slash the amount of delegates a state would get if it "jumps the line". OR, another way to go... would be to create an incentive for states to go later, that is, give them disportionately MORE DELEGATES and make the later primaries "winner take all" therefore making a victory in those states really really consequential. rightcoastdem.

[Matt Miller]

"And it's likely to be years before the denizens of such out-of-the-way burgs as Moon Township, Lock Haven, Clearfield and Connelsville"
-- Don Frederick

I'm glad Mr. Frederick thinks enough of Pennsylvanians to take the time and effort to double check the spelling of "Connellsville". Not to mention his tireless pursuit of geographic excellence mentioning the far flung rural communities.

Moon township considers itself lucky being so far flung from Pittsburgh that we are the suburb that not only houses the Pittsburgh International Airport, but also the home of most professional athletes in the area. Now we only pray that we receive running water being so far removed form American civilization.

The last time I checked all these towns were within a 50 mile radius of the confluence of the three rivers. LA I do believe takes in a little over a hundred miles of the surrounding area. I hear that the communities Mr. Frederick mentioned are on the list to get electricity soon.

People like Mr. Frederick tend to make the west coasters look mighty brilliant in most of our opinions with stunning feats of cultural ignorance like the article above. Yea it's tough growing up in a state devoid of social contribution to this great country. We are sorry having the nations original capital, drafting our constitution, discovering oil and being one the leading states in green power and conservation does not count for much.
So we tried to make up for it by giving yinz guys the "Big Mac", zippers and Jean Claude Van Damme's epic "Sudden Death".

Sorry for being a drag on your progress LA.

Now if you will be so kind as to excuse me I have to clean my gun and be bitter.

Sincerely,
The backwoods, gun toting, bible thumping, sister loving, tobacco chawing, whiskey running, bitter populace of Pennsylvania

[Hobo Joe]

Barack Obama is a bit confused when he talks of Urban America being Bitter. The only Bitterness I have seen in this entire campaign is the Bitterness of his wife Michelle. She has been taught by Jeremiah Wright to Hate Whites, to Hate America, and to Goddamn America. This woman can find nothing to be really proud of in America. Now that is Bitterness.

Here are some things she should be really proud of. She can be proud that she was able to get an excellent education at an Elite Institution. She can be proud that she lives in a free country. She can be proud that she has the right and the freedon to purchase 4 one-way tickest to any country in the world (Preferably Africa). May she can find something to be really proud of in her homeland.

[Trey]

The LATimes won't post this, but I'll say it anyway. Hillary is not going to the super delegates claiming Obama is unelectable; she is doing it for the people of Pennsylvania and Indiana. Basically she is trying to scare white and black democrats who are not prejudiced; but who fear America is still a racist country. Of course if Obama keeps 90% of the people currently voting for him and 70% of Hillary's voters; even with defections he wins the Presidency. Of course what the media is not saying is that the majority of the 30% claiming to vote for McCain; will most likely vote for Obama or not vote at all.

Also, to all this stuff about Obama being Kerry, Gore, or Dukakis? First, I don’t remember people going crazy over any of these guys when they ran for office. As I recall, my mom and I said they lost as soon as Kerry was chosen (we liked Edwards). More to the point, wasn't Kerry a not very likeable policy wonk? Isn't that also what Clinton is described as; cold, not very friendly, but she knows her stuff? Wouldn't this mean then that she, not Obama, looks more like the type of candidate Democrats have paraded out and lost with in the past? The red phone moment, pictures of Osama, Hillary is proving more Mondale than B. Clinton.

[Amy]

As a native Pennsylvanian, I can say that most of us will be thrilled to give the spotlight back. The campaigns call us 3-5 times each day. Our televisions are overloaded with attack ads. The local news teems with campaign stops at this restaurant or that gas station. We're ready for them to leave us alone!

[Short sighted]

I have wondered this - Has Pennsylvania managed to capitalize on the attention and free advertising? After California and Texas ... PA must have known they were to be checked in the little black book for courting. This is like a traveling festival for them ... I wonder how much local revenue was generated and did the total 13 million of advertising dollars from both camps stay in the state? We are in a recession, and the democrats have to be shown as pulling their weight in relieving the economic stress ... and in real terms, they probably did a good job! There is a lot of liquid cash that is being paid out to street canvassing, phone banks, local small businesses for printed material etc. For some young people, or those struggling to make a job change ... this experience will have trained them for a whole new career. Come on ... this IS big business. And unlike other business ... it will have affected large swashes of areas and populations. AND - they will be back. Here is the big chance for the state's economic development office to run a big campaign! You know - beyond the clingy people. Don't states vie for huge contracts to get folks to come to their states in conferences, and events? Er, emergent - but pretty much the same ... don't you think? Obama's 35 thousand rally did as much for local vendors as a rock concert! I use to help a friend stage events at local venues in the political season hiring a lot of local musicians who may not have had anything in their date book ... and it came with a nice little media exposure too! Oh - right, hang on ... didn't many folk musicians of the 60s and 70s make careers in a political maelstrom?? Ah, but here we are today ... and the Bruce Springsteen's songs of the eightees echo out - just as pertinent as they were more than two decades ago. I looked up Pennsylvania on the sometimes unreliable Wikipedia ... They have a high retirement population - which sometimes means huge but modest development to rural areas where they may move to. If the movement of retirees is not part of a development project ... it would often mean a more equal trickling of revenue to the area - and while slow growth ... sometimes more sustainable with equal access. And while retiring in one area, the retirees can be starting a second career opening small businessess. I look at Pittsburg etc and wonder if those fortune 500 retirees are like those in California, where many have moved or have second homes in Northern California bringing with them many hidden dollars. Parts of Northern california appear, at least from the naked eye point of view, a lot more resilient to the topsy turviness of our economy over the last couple of decades. I look at that, and I wonder - is PA really the same as it surrounding states OR is it actually a Northern California? We know that the same big businesses are not going to return to the area ... so what does that mean? Are we looking for oil in the wrong place? Further ... and I have to say that this would be much harder - have they really capitalized on the Beer Industry ... ??

[Rom M]

What too many voters are not thinking about is that this Clinton administration would be about spin, inability to admit a failing and secretiveness so that her administration based on loyalty and not competence will keep their failings hidden. Fortunately the process is weighted heavily in that not happening.

This is one reason why the more educated do not want Clinton. Anticipation of problems.

[Ray]

PA voters are intelligent people and I think they know a winner when they see one. Barack Obama needs to tie this race up so that the Dems can focus on winning the general election in November. That's all we care about!

http://sethandray.wordpress.com/

[Lynn]

So guess what the headlines around the world will be now? "Hillary wants to obliterate Iran" She is just shooting off her mouth and showing she doesn't have much foreign policy cred. It does not matter what the context is, about an attack on Israel. She choose the wrong word there. Obliterate, as in leaving no trace? I am sure everyone in Iran would be willing to negotiate with her now. Hillary, acting like Bush, sounding like Bush, will get you nowhere in the real world beyond our borders. Haven't you learned that?

[LCSusan]

The Dems must figure out a way to let all of the states have a say in the selection of the candidate - a national primary?

http://strictlyanecdotal.com/2008/04/22/if-senator-clinton-wins-the-pennsylvania-primary-by-a-ten-spot-or-more.aspx

[John_Lai]

The country is at a critical point: wars, economic depressions, religion cults like Trinity church and Mormons are eroding the hearts of Americans. Yet a civilian such as OBAMA is essentially given a free ride in the primary. What's wrong with the Americans.
People votes for OBAMA for CHANGE.
He can't change CHICAGO POLITICS.
He can't change the corruption ring of REZKO; he is a part of them
He can't change the hatred of America from Rev Wright and his church; He stays there for 20 years and inspired by the pastor and the church.
He is the one who voted more than 130 times 'PRESENCE'; this is unprecedent,
Americans who vote for him for change and judgment are irrational and put the whole country at risk.