Ideal Candidate Speaks: Let's Not Forget Congress

In this Presidential election year, it is easy to forget that we will also be electing 1/3 of the Senate and all 435 members of the House of Representatives. Yes, in Pennsylvania there is no Senator up for election. And yes, we can expect a coat-tail effect: if we nominate a strong Presidential candidate that candidate will influence voting down the column to the so-called "minor" races.

But we need a candidate. We need a candidate for House of Representatives. Until someone else emerges, I am that Ideal Candidate.

The problem is that I am now but a cyberspace entity. Until someone circulates a petition and files for the office, my campaign as "Ideal Candidate" is not for the office, but to influence the formation of the policy ideas and broad themes that could define a successful campaign.

Let's be honest. Conventional wisdom says that this seat is a long-shot. Gerlach has survived two tough challenges since being elected in 2002. He has earned his incumbency by being a fighter, and by being smart enough to chart a course just independent enough to avoid being seen as a "nothing but(t)" --an echo of the Bush White House. But a "just independent enough" is not enough to represent our district in a new change-oriented Congress in January 2009.

Now that Connie Williams has announced her retirement and Daylin Leach has announced his intention to run for Connie's seat, two possible candidates for the "Ideal Candidate" with proven vote-getting ability in the eastern portion of the district are out of the picture. Ideal Candidate has heard rumours of folks interested, but, as of now, is not aware of anyone who is serious.

Ideal Candidate is not out to "draft" any particular individual. Ideal Candidate will continue to serve as the only "declared" candidate for the office until a flesh-and-blood person with the qualifications to serve emerges. At that point, Ideal Candidate plans to continue to offer critiques and advice: holding up the ideal against which these campaigns should be judged.

Let the campaign begin!