Also this issue:

Feds Indict "Mr. Fantastic"
A City Paper investigation leads to espionage charges.
-Howard Altman

Incendiary Situation
Neighbors nervous as MOVE boards up headquarters.
-Gwen Shaffer

Hit 'Em Where They Live
-Daniel Brook

Rosey's Future
-Deborah Bolling

Gay-J's Host the USA
A national convention of lesbian and gay journalists makes headlines for Philly.
-David Warner

Starting the Dialogue
-Mary F. Patel

The Bell Curve
City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

September 19-25, 2002

guvwatch

Vegas, Baby!

by Daryl Gale

This past Tuesday night there was a gubernatorial candidates forum held at the Adam’s Mark Hotel on City Avenue. Sponsored by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the forum was thought to be an excellent opportunity for Ed Rendell, Mike Fisher and their respective candidates for lieutenant governor, Catherine Baker Knoll and Jane Earll, to lay out their platforms and ideas for November as they pertain to women in business. Well, it would have been an excellent opportunity, except for the fact that Rendell opted out, choosing instead to fly out to Harrah’s casino in Las Vegas for a high-rolling fundraiser in his honor, hosted by his old pals at the Democratic National Committee. This was confirmed by DNC officials, who had reserved Harrah’s Copper Room for the occasion.

Not that money is a problem. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, which tracks statewide election dollars, as of June 10 Rendell had $5,345,413.14 on hand. Not surprising, since Big Ed's ability to cajole fat checks out of fat cats is the stuff of political legend. A bit of an eyebrow-raiser however, is the fact that as of the same date, Fisher had even more cash in his war chest, $5,415,393.46. That $69,980.32 difference may not sound like much, but every dollar counts, and both campaigns are counting every dollar.

Renée Jones, president of the Philadelphia chapter of NAWBO, confirms that Ed politely declined their invitation to the Adam's Mark soiree, and would be "out of state" that day.

"Certainly we would have liked to have Mr. Rendell there himself, but he's sent us very capable proxies," Jones says. "Mr. David Cohen will be there to represent Mr. Rendell, and as you know, not much happens in this city that David doesn't have a hand in. And District Attorney Lynne Abraham will be here to represent Catherine Baker Knoll. Ms. Abraham has long been a friend and supporter of women in business, and has served as a role model to women everywhere."

Jones says there will be short but sweet fundraisers for both parties scheduled before and after the candidates forum, but let's face it, the Adam's Mark on City Avenue is just not the same as Harrah's on the Vegas strip.

Naturally, the Fisher camp has seized upon Rendell's no-show status at the Adam's Mark to reiterate their position that Rendell is deliberately limiting the amount of time the candidates spend in the same room.

"It's been a point of frustration for us," says Fisher campaign spokesperson Nils Hagen-Frederiksen. "In his primary with Bobby [Casey], Ed suggested 100 debates. We thought that was a great idea, of course, Casey's people did not. What we have suggested for this general election is at least one formal debate for both governor and lieutenant governor candidates in each media market in the state. So far, there's only been one lieutenant governor debate scheduled, and Ed won't even go to Erie. So we're down to only six scheduled and agreed upon debates for governor and one for lieutenant governor. We continue to press for more debates, but with little success."

Upon hearing this repeated, Rendell campaign spokesman Dan Fee groans loudly. You can almost hear his eyes roll over the phone.

"We were invited to the forum at the Adam's Mark, and we declined more than a month ago due to scheduling conflicts," Fee says. "We agreed to a series of debates, the first being this Thursday at Penn State, and we'll be there."

Asked about his boss’ Tuesday schedule, Fee says, “Ed has no public schedule today.” And then about Vegas, “Ed has no public schedule today.” Okey dokey, we get the message.

But as long as he's "out of state" and "has no public schedule," once he has the checks tucked in his money belt maybe our buddy can take advantage of Harrah's fantastic golf package, or catch the Clint Holmes show, the guy billed by Harrah's as "heir apparent to the throne left vacant by Sammy Davis Jr." There's lots to do in Vegas, but only Ed gets to leave town richer than he came.