PA-SN 2022 megathread: Shrek vs. The Wizard of Oz

[Tekken_Guy]

Is Guy Reschenthaler the PA GOP’s strongest candidate? Fitzpatrick and Costello can’t win a primary, and Kelly, Perry, Mastriano have no chance in the general.

[It’s so Joever]

Watch everyone hype up titanium candidate Fetterman, only for him to lose to generic R by about one percent.

[Mexican Wolf]

Watch everyone hype up titanium candidate Fetterman, only for him to lose to generic R by about one percent.

Tbf, that's about where I land right now in rating this race, as much as I like Fetterman and would be super happy to campaign and vote for him. But I still think there's a chance he can overcome midterm headwinds and win the seat by a couple percentage points. We'll just have to see how the field and race develops.

[Virginiá]

Watch everyone hype up titanium candidate Fetterman, only for him to lose to generic R by about one percent.

Yeah, prior to the runoffs, we really didn't perform that well in Senate races and this was when Biden was winning by 4 points. Ditto for 2018 and 2016. If we're barely scraping by now, what will happen if Republicans manage to reverse that and we get an R+4 environment? PA only barely went for Biden, and Republicans won the House popular vote there.

Maybe this guy can stitch together a winning coalition, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I've gotten burned too many times over the past 4+ years when it comes to the Senate.

[progressive85]

I think John Fetterman would be the best Democratic candidate.

For the Republicans, they should really run Charlie Dent but he might not win the primary.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Anyone else think Shapiro would be better for senate and Fetterman for governor or is that just me?

[free my dawg]

Anyone else think Shapiro would be better for senate and Fetterman for governor or is that just me?

Perfectly understandable and arguable, tbh.

[wbrocks67]

Anyone else think Shapiro would be better for senate and Fetterman for governor or is that just me?

Perfectly understandable and arguable, tbh.

Hm, I think Shapiro is good either way, bc he could survive a more partisan race (Senate) given his performance this year. But Shapiro just feels to make sense for Governor, and I think a less partisan race could help him run it up even more. Meanwhile, while Shaprio clearly does have a lot of appeal given his performance this year, Fetterman just seems like the better candidate in the Senate race.

I'm not sure I can explain it well, but personally it just feels right with Shapiro as gov and Fetterman as Senate

[free my dawg]

I mean as I see it they're both great.

[KaiserDave]

Anyone else think Shapiro would be better for senate and Fetterman for governor or is that just me?

Agreed completely

[Lambsbread]

Fetterman and Shapiro are great candidates. Fetterman has run for Senate previously so I think he is kind of doing a "revenge tour" as it were by running for this seat again. Shapiro has been a brilliant AG and seems to have masterful command of PA-specific laws, which would aid him well as Governor. Not to say that Fetterman doesn't and he has absolutely built his brand around being "The Big Dude from Braddock" but he seems to have a much greater focus on a national agenda--M4A, legal weed, etc.--than Shapiro does. They're both great future candidates for POTUS as well

[KaiserDave]

Fetterman and Shapiro are great candidates. Fetterman has run for Senate previously so I think he is kind of doing a "revenge tour" as it were by running for this seat again. Shapiro has been a brilliant AG and seems to have masterful command of PA-specific laws, which would aid him well as Governor. Not to say that Fetterman doesn't and he has absolutely built his brand around being "The Big Dude from Braddock" but he seems to have a much greater focus on a national agenda--M4A, legal weed, etc.--than Shapiro does. They're both great future candidates for POTUS as well

I've always thought this about Shapiro so I'm happy others agree. In the event of a Democratic defeat in 2024. Shapiro 2028!

[wbrocks67]

Fetterman and Shapiro are great candidates. Fetterman has run for Senate previously so I think he is kind of doing a "revenge tour" as it were by running for this seat again. Shapiro has been a brilliant AG and seems to have masterful command of PA-specific laws, which would aid him well as Governor. Not to say that Fetterman doesn't and he has absolutely built his brand around being "The Big Dude from Braddock" but he seems to have a much greater focus on a national agenda--M4A, legal weed, etc.--than Shapiro does. They're both great future candidates for POTUS as well

This is a good point as well. Shapiro just screams less partisanship and hasn't really been *as* involved with the national agenda as Fetterman has, so that makes both of their paths make even more sense to me.

[Alcibiades]

Fitzpatrick has already filed to run for re-election to the House. Of course he could yet change his plans, especially if he’s drawn a tougher district, but maybe that’s an indication of his current thinking.

https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/H6PA08277/1482646/

[Lambsbread]

Follow me on Twitter for more PA memes and John Fetterman content

https://twitter.com/moshxlyfe/status/1348997822788546561?s=20

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Cartwright seems like a better bet at this point

[It’s so Joever]

Follow me on Twitter for more PA memes and John Fetterman content

https://twitter.com/moshxlyfe/status/1348997822788546561?s=20

If he makes that his slogan, he will lose Allegheny County (but obv will win Lancaster)

[Suburbia]

Fetterman should run for Governor.

He can keep PA blue.

[KaiserDave]

Cartwright seems like a better bet at this point

It would probably be smarter to elevate Cartwright given the state of his district, and I like him, but I doubt he beats Fetterman in a primary. The Scranton area can't exactly compete with Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Cartwright seems like a better bet at this point

It would probably be smarter to elevate Cartwright given the state of his district, and I like him, but I doubt he beats Fetterman in a primary. The Scranton area can't exactly compete with Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Fetterman isn't going to be the candidate of choice for Philly or its suburbs; he'll get killed there in the primary.  I'm not saying Cartwright will do any better, but the point stands.  I also don't think it's clear that Fetterman would wipe the floor with Cartwright in the Pittsburgh area.  He might, but it's not a given.  Lamb would certainly beat Fetterman there if he runs.  Fetterman is also pretty untested and while he may well prove to be a really strong candidate, right now there's not much to back up all the hype. 

[KaiserDave]

Cartwright seems like a better bet at this point

It would probably be smarter to elevate Cartwright given the state of his district, and I like him, but I doubt he beats Fetterman in a primary. The Scranton area can't exactly compete with Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Fetterman isn't going to be the candidate of choice for Philly or its suburbs; he'll get killed there in the primary.  I'm not saying Cartwright will do any better, but the point stands.  I also don't think it's clear that Fetterman would wipe the floor with Cartwright in the Pittsburgh area.  He might, but it's not a given.  Lamb would certainly beat Fetterman there if he runs.  Fetterman is also pretty untested and while he may well prove to be a really strong candidate, right now there's not much to back up all the hype. 

You're right, but I don't think Fetterman is going to get a substantial challenge. Shapiro, darling of the Philadelphia suburbs is probably going for the governorship. Lamb I don't buy is running, and maybe Houlahan runs, but I don't think she can beat Fetterman. Cartwright's base is the Scranton area, and I don't buy that he could draw serious support in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

Fetterman running probably means Wolf is behind him privately anyway.

[Blair]

Wasn't Lamb's house seat closer than people expected?

He's also of the age where he could easily jump to another state wide office later on, or just retire and wait for it to come up...

[KaiserDave]

Wasn't Lamb's house seat closer than people expected?

He's also of the age where he could easily jump to another state wide office later on, or just retire and wait for it to come up...

Lamb should try and go for AG when Shapiro (hopefully) is elected Governor.

[Lambsbread]

Wasn't Lamb's house seat closer than people expected?

He's also of the age where he could easily jump to another state wide office later on, or just retire and wait for it to come up...

Lamb should try and go for AG when Shapiro (hopefully) is elected Governor.

Too much of a downgrade for Lamb. I assume he'd only take that post as a last resort.

[KaiserDave]

Wasn't Lamb's house seat closer than people expected?

He's also of the age where he could easily jump to another state wide office later on, or just retire and wait for it to come up...

Lamb should try and go for AG when Shapiro (hopefully) is elected Governor.

Too much of a downgrade for Lamb. I assume he'd only take that post as a last resort.

Thoughts on a Cartwright Senate campaign?