Party affiliation is among the “little things” that Madonna said would make a difference this election.
The GOP nominees are Cohn, an Allentown lawyer; Leavitt, a shareholder with Buchanan Ingersoll in Harrisburg; and Simpson, a Northampton County Common Pleas judge. Simpson and Leavitt received a rating of highly recommended from the state bar’s evaluating committee, while Cohn received a rating of recommended.
The Democratic nominees are Aronson, a Harrisburg lawyer; Dodaro, an Allegheny County lawyer; and Langan, a lawyer in Luzerne County. Aronson received a rating of “highly recommended,” while the committee only recommended Dodaro and Langan.
Madonna said the Republican candidates have an advantage because Philadelphia and Pittsburgh lack hotly contested races.
“Republicans do better in statewide elections when there aren’t any mayoral races in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia,” Madonna said.
Although Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy has a Republican opponent, history shows the race was over when he defeated Council President Bob O’Connor in the May primary. Philadelphia elected a new mayor last year.
In addition to party affiliation, gender and regionalism may be a factor, Delano said.
“My personal view is that Republican women, and women in general, ought to do well Nov. 6,” Delano said. “Voters will look at the ballot and see mostly males running, and think there are mostly male judges, and they will have a tendency to give women candidates a vote.”
Regionalism could help Dodaro, a Pittsburgh native and the only candidate from southwestern Pennsylvania, according to Madonna and Delano.
Madonna said Pittsburgh’s surrounding counties really tend to support anyone from that region and not to vote for Philadelphians.
However, Delano noted, the key for Dodaro will be whether the voters associate him with his Pittsburgh roots. Unlike the primary, the candidate’s home county will not be listed on the ballot during the general election.
“Dodaro is the only Democrat putting forth a television effort,” Delano said. “If they know he’s from southwestern Pennsylvania, then geography will help him.”
Dodaro, a lawyer with Dodaro Kennedy & Cambest and vice president and general counsel for Resource Development & Management Inc., dismissed speculation about voter apathy.
He said he is optimistic more voters will go to their polling places this year because of the national tragedies and outpouring of patriotism that has followed.
Labor vs. Business
Madonna said another factor this year could be the distinction between business and labor.
He said labor organizations are staunchly behind Aronson, a labor lawyer in charge of Willig Williams & Davidson’s Harrisburg office.
Aronson said he decided to become politically active after his four children questioned him about last year’s presidential election.
“They wanted to know why the guy with the most votes didn’t win,” said Aronson. “Public policy issues were always prevalent in my work and home, so I decided to get into the fray and thought the best place for that was Commonwealth Court.”
Aronson said the issues decided in Commonwealth Court are the ones most closely aligned with his areas of practice.
Unlike Dodaro, Aronson said he doesn’t anticipate high voter turnout.
The other candidates did not return calls for comment.
