Politics & Government

Township Political Party Leaders Voice Opinions On Primaries

Republican and Democratic leaders share their thoughts about the election.

Republican and Democratic leaders for Haverford Township share their views of the primary elections.

Jim Knapp, the chairman of the Haverford Township Republican Party, said that while his organization will not be endorsing Mitt Romney—at the moment the leading GOP presidential candidate—he does believe that the former Massachusetts governor will win the commonwealth’s race Tuesday night.

Knapp said that Romney could bring a lot of unity to the country if he is elected president.

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“It’s his experience to be elected as governor in a Democratic state that shows he has the experience to lead this country,” Knapp said to the Haverford-Havertown Patch.

While the township’s GOP party will not be having any fundraisers for Romney, members will be supporting the candidate individually, Knapp explained.

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But for Judith LaLonde, she is not concerned with the Republican presidential primary results.

“We as a committee are not concerned about the Republican candidates.  Neither represents our values for economic equality, and encourage prosperity in our community,” the chairwoman of the Haverford Township Democratic Committee wrote in an email to Patch.

But both LaLonde and Knapp have their eye on the U.S. senator race. Lalonde feels that U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. will defeat his Democratic opponent Joe Vodvarka in Tuesday’s primary race.

“We expect the Bob Casey will prevail in the primary, a reflection of voters appreciation of his early and strong support for Barack Obama.  We look forward to the November general election,” LaLonde stated. “When voters caste a vote of approval of Obama’s record on improving jobs growth and the economy after the disastrous Bush presidency.”

But the person that Knapp wants to see become the Republican U.S. senator candidate, Steve Welch, has a tough fight on his hands. He is competing against four other Republican candidates. But Knapp feels that Welch will be triumphant.

“He’s a local guy and a young entrepreneur. … He has what it takes to beat Casey,” Knapp said.


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