It is now clear that next May we will face a number of Democratic Primary contests.

The Sestak-Specter Senate Primary along with a possible Vitali-Lentz Primary for Congress will obviously be center stage in Delaware County.  There will also be Primaries for Governor, Lt. Governor and probably for state representatives and state senators especially where the state rep seats are open with incumbents not seeking re-election. (Just to add to the fun there will be intra-party contests for state committee and county committee seats and the resultant county chairman election).  
 
These primaries pose a challenge to the Delaware County Democratic Committee and all local committees, officers and committee persons.  We can end the primary season looking like a scene out of Gone With the Wind with thousands of bodies strewn on the train station lot and the city of Atlanta burning OR we can look like the Democratic National Convention of 2008 with a party coming together to win in the Fall.
 
As Chairman of the this party I am determined to do all I can to make sure these primaries result in strengthening the winners not breaking the party.

We now represent the majority voting in this county and we can't fritter that majority away.
 
I suggest that all activists in this party who care about continuing to defeat  right wing arrogant Delco Republicans follow some basic guidelines as to next year's primary contests.
 
First, speak no ill of another Democratic candidate - support your candidate but don't give the Republicans their ammunition for the Fall - and remember, you will be called upon, and I believe will want, to support the primary winners in these contests.
 
Second, make your decision based on your criteria and do it when you feel you should but keep your eye on Nov. 3, 2009 and the over 150 Democratic candidates running this year who need your help - including important state and county races.  There's plenty of time ninety days from now to start campaigning for your choices of next year.
 
Third, keep in mind when deciding who to support  that it is over 6 months until the county nominating convention and 9 months until the Primary - there may be candidates we haven't even met who decide to enter these races and others who decide to drop out before anyone has an opportunity to vote.
 
Fourth, official party endorsement for these races, or no endorsement as the case may be,  is made by committee persons at the Nominating Convention/Caucuses in February.  The State Committee may weigh in on statewide positions as early as January or as late as March.
 
Let's remember we are ALL Democrats.  We support the progressive policies that the Obama-Biden Administration is trying to accomplish. We have good candidates to offer the voters next year, if anything maybe too many good candidates.  If we act as if every primary candidate we support is the only good person in the race we may well end up finding ourselves losing in November next year to some really bad Republican candidates.
 
When November 2010 rolls around, we can end up with a Delco Democrat in the US Senate, a Democratic Congressman, four or more Democratic state representatives and a Delco Democratic State Senator.  Or we can end up with none of the above - and how we conduct ourselves between now and then could be the deciding factor.
 
Cliff Wilson
Chair
Delaware County Democratic Party