Local officials say they never endorsed Hillary Clinton

April 15, 2008

By Mallory Szymanski

The Hillary Clinton for President Campaign has claimed endorsements from local officials that were apparently never made.

In a release from the campaign’s press office dated April 11, more than 270 Pennsylvania politicians are listed as endorsing Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y, over rival candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Two advertised endorsements from Northumberland County come from Rep. Robert Belfanti Jr., D-107, and Eleanor Kuhns, former Northumberland County and Coal Township commissioner.

When asked if he had endorsed Clinton for president, Belfanti bluntly responded, “Not that I recall.”

The representative from Mount Carmel said he intends to remain neutral, stating, “I didn’t sign any forms or make any type of written commitments to anyone.”

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Belfanti later clarified late Monday night that, if he were asked to sign a written endorsement for either of the two Democratic presidential candidates, he’d choose Clinton.

In a phone interview Saturday, Kuhns said she hadn’t formally endorsed Clinton either, but did plan on voting for her in the April 22 primary. The first chairwoman in Northumberland County’s history, Kuhns said she’s been making phone calls for Clinton and often speaks

in support of her candidacy during political events.

“I never formally made any announcement or anything, but I’m certainly for her and I don’t think there’s much of a difference between going out and working for her and endorsing her,” Kuhns said Saturday.

The News-Item placed a call to Clinton’s Pennsylvania press office on Monday, asking them about the apparent mix-up. In a follow-up interview Monday afternoon, Kuhns said the Clinton Campaign had just called her earlier that day and formally asked for her endorsement.

“They seemed to think that I had endorsed her before. I know I was all for her. I have no objections to endorsing her,” Kuhns said in a phone interview Monday.

The campaign apologized for listing Rep. Belfanti among Clinton endorsers.

“We have a vast amount of support from around the state that we’re proud of. We’re respectful of the representative’s decision to stay neutral,” said Clinton Pennsylvania Press Secretary Dana Edelstein.

Henry Coira, Democratic Committee chair of Montour County, was among those listed in the press release as formally endorsing Clinton for president.

Coira said that in the primary election, it’s against the Democratic Committee’s policy to endorse either candidate within their party because it could cause friction amongst fellow Dems.

“We do not endorse any private candidate until the general election. … We’re not working for either which one, we’re working for the Democrats in general,” Coira said.

The REPUBLICAN & Herald of Pottsville reported Saturday that of the six Democrats from Schuylkill County listed in the Clinton Campaign’s press release, only three have officially endorsed the former first lady.

Included in the press release are Rep. Neal Goodman, D-23, County commissioners Mantura M. Gallagher, chairwoman, and Francis V. McAndrew, county Register of Wills Michael McCord, Democratic state committee member Linda Decindio and Pine Grove Township Supervisor Diane Tobin.

Officially endorsing Clinton were Gallagher, Tobin and Decindio. Goodman, however, said he hasn’t endorsed either Clinton or Obama. “I’m like a lot of Pennsylvanians. I’m looking at both of them. I am leaning toward Hillary but I’m keeping an open mind,” he told the REPUBLICAN & Herald in a phone interview Friday afternoon.

McAndrew and McCord both told the paper they support Clinton and plan to officially endorse her, but haven’t actually done so.

Some governmental officials included in the press release who hadn’t officially endorsed Clinton said they may have wound up on the list because they have worked closely with her campaign.

Goodman said he, along with other representatives, recently met with Clinton in Harrisburg and that may have led to the campaign press release. He also said he was instrumental in bringing Bill Clinton to Schuylkill County for the Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which may have played a role.

McCord told the REPUBLICAN & Herald his name probably appears because he’s volunteered to work for the campaign.

Even though Kuhns wasn’t initially aware she was listed as an official endorser of Hillary Clinton, she’s made it known that she supports the candidate with a “Hillary Clinton For President” sign firmly placed outside her Coal Township home.

“I’ve been for her (Clinton) all along. … She stands for all the things that mean a lot to me, my friends and family,” Kuhns said Saturday.

According to American Research Group (ARG) Inc., Kuhns currently holds the majority viewpoint of Pennsylvania voters.

In their most recent poll, taken from April 11 to 13, ARG projected that Clinton leads Obama, 57 percent to 37 percent, in Democratic voter support across the Keystone state.

Source: Zwire.com

Posted by Hillary · Filed Under Hillary Clinton, Hillary Lies, News

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