The party faithful, general counsel Michael Meehan, chairman Vito Canuso and executive director Joseph Duda were front and center. So were young turks like Kevin Kelly, Joe DeFelice and Sean Reilly, who want change and a more progressive agenda for the party.

While the crowd waited for the big candidates to arrive, bar talk turned to the disagreement between the conservative Bob Guzzardi and Montgomery County GOP committee chair Ken Davis which is currently roiling suburban Republicans. Guzzardi, a local businessman who funds and supports conservatives, sent a scathing e-mail around criticizing Davis and GOP national committeeman Bob Asher for organizing and advertising a "massive" rally for GOP gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann and lieutenant governor candidate Jim Matthews. Davis invited the local GOP to the rally to show support for the Swann-Matthews ticket.

"Massive rally?" wrote Guzzardi, who didn't attend the event. "Only if Asher and Davis can turn out an army of hacks and lobbyists and porkers. Who is going to show up at this?"

Davis, who also wasn't on hand, said, "I and the other Southeast leaders have a plan to help our candidates." He didn't, however, respond to Guzzardi.

"The party should sit down with Bob Guzzardi and try to work things out," one Republican ward leader noted as he reached for a pitcher of beer. "He's got a lot of money and people should take him seriously."

Others dismissed Guzzardi for being "too out there."

Guzzardi is also looking to oust GOP Speaker of the House John Perzel. A recent article in the conservative Evening Bulletin, where Guzzardi is a major lender, detailed how Guzzardi plans to spend as much as $100,000 to help defeat Perzel.

It was almost 6 p.m. when top-of-the-ticket U.S. Rep. Rick Santorum arrived and took the stage. Surprisingly, he didn't give a big speech. He has outspent his Democratic rival Bob Casey with TV ads but is still behind Casey in recent polls.

Swann gave brief remarks.

"I'm looking around this stage and I see a boxing ring," observed Swann. "This is a boxing ring for the Republicans to fight it out. The difference between us and [the Democrats] is that we have a real plan." He did not elaborate, but criticized Gov. Ed Rendell for having no real accomplishments.

Earlier this month, yet another fundraiser was held for Matthews, a favorite of local Republicans. It was at the Society Hill home of attorney Mike Cibik; more than 90 packed the joint and spent time riding the elevator up and down to the roof deck.

Judith Camiel, wife of Dr. Edwin Camiel, nephew of former Democratic Party boss Peter J. Camiel, is handling Matthews' fundraising.

Back at the clambake, Republicans dished on Democrats. Some intend to secretly help Local 98 business manager John Dougherty raise money for his possible mayoral run next year.

Others presumed that party leadership would ask three-time-failed mayoral candidate Sam Katz to run again while some didn't think much of the idea because Katz was ordered to pay back his former business partners $2.1 million after a Delaware judge ruled that Katz defrauded them in a business deal. Most dismissed a new Katz candidacy because he is racking up the frequent flyer miles traveling to China with new business partner Robert Lane and making a lot of money.

Most speculated that if a special election were held to fill the vacancies in the 4th and 7th districts and the one at-large councilmanic seat, ward leader Carol Campbell would win the endorsement of Democratic ward leaders in the 4th but that she would only serve in the special election and not run next year.

There was also talk that state Sen. Vincent Fumo is supporting 23rd Democratic ward leader Dan Savage (not to be confused with syndicated sex columnist Dan Savage) for convicted City Councilman Rick Mariano's seat.

Meanwhile, Republican David Oh, an immigration attorney, said he plans to run for a City Council at-large seat again.

(rcpatel@aol.com)