Voter: Eddie for anything

Ed Rendell needed a strong turnout at the polls in his hometown to defeat state Attorney General Mike Fisher in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election, and that’s what he got.

At press time, election returns placed Rendell 9 percentage points ahead of Fisher with 53 percent of the votes in the governor’s race.

The city’s former mayor reportedly won 18 of the state’s 67 counties, including populous Philly, where he took 84% of the vote.

Many South Philly polls reported a steady flow of voters throughout the day, even between the morning and after-work rushes. Turnout was undoubtedly fueled by a popular hometown candidate, good weather most of the day and Fisher’s anti-Philly sentiments late in the campaign.

Most voters, however, insisted the candidates’ advertisements were not a factor.

Rendell and Fisher spent $70 million combined on their campaigns — more than the cost of any other gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania history — yet many voters said the bombardment of television commercials, newspaper ads and radio spots did not sway them. Some, like Edward Smith, of the 200 block of Reed Street, even said they had an opposite effect.

"The other guy, with the taxicab driver," Smith said, referring to Fisher’s ads depicting a fictional city cab driver criticizing Rendell, "I thought that was a little nonsense."

Smith, a Rendell supporter, said he feels candidates spend too much money on commercials.

"People have it in their mind who they are going to vote for without having all that information," he said.

Joan Conn, of the 200 block of Fernon Street, called both candidates’ campaigns "slimy." She declined to reveal her choice for governor, but said she voted "yes" for the second ballot question. It asked whether the city should create an independent Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission that would recommend ways to cut taxes.

"This, to me, is trying to keep people in the city by not scaring them away with high taxes," Conn said. "We have a big problem with that right now."

Polling place after polling place, those who were willing to share which candidate they voted for said they picked Rendell. Many voters explained they voted for him because of his performance as mayor or their allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Larsenia Adams, of the 700 block of Warnock Street, exited the polls at Palumbo Recreation Center, 10th and Fitzwater streets, and declared that she voted with her heart — and along party lines.

"I’m strictly a Democrat and I love Rendell," Adams said.

Mario Triantafillou called the former mayor the "common sense" choice.

"I have lived in Philly for a while," said Triantafillou, of the 700 block of South 11th Street, "so I had made my decision about governor a while ago." He added that he was particularly impressed by the Democrat’s ability to lower city taxes while mayor.

"I thought he was a great mayor," said Eileen Kulpa, of the 1200 block of Dover Street, explaining that was the main reason she favored him. Kulpa added that Rendell’s moderate political views and pro-business stance would enable him to work with both Democrats and Republicans at the state level.


Fisher supporters were visible at several polling places, like Palumbo, the Passyunk Branch of the Free Library and Jenks School, 13th and Porter streets, where several physicians stood outside for hours. The doctors backed Fisher. Both candidates had campaigned to reform malpractice insurance policies in the state.

Rosemary Marino and Martha Brown were among the Republicans hoping to, if not derail the Rendell machine as it rolled through South Philly, at least slow it down.

People here feel obligated to vote Democrat, said Brown, of the 2400 block of Garnet Street. She dubbed the phenomenon "traditional voting."

"You have to vote Democrat because you are in South Philly and somebody fixed a parking ticket for you, even though that was 50 years ago!"

She and Marino stood in front of the polling entrance at the Passyunk Branch, 20th and Shunk streets, from 6 a.m. until the polls closed. They decorated a portion of the wrought-iron fence around the property with Fisher signs.

Prior to Election Day, Marino was busy calling voters, reminding them to go out to the polls. She also knocked on doors to distribute Fisher’s literature.

The dedicated Republican said she had no problem campaigning against hometown favorite Rendell.

"Rendell has done nothing for South Philadelphia," said Marino, harking back to criticism the former mayor frequently received while he was in City Hall. "If he calls what he has done for Philadelphia [helping] Center City, then that is true."

But voter Al Verrecchia felt differently. After casting his vote at 30th and Dickinson streets, he said there are enough Republicans working in Harrisburg.

"I wanted to keep checks and balances for everything, so I voted Democratic," he said. Verrecchia, from the 1200 block of Dover Street, also said he believes Rendell will be better for businesses in Pennsylvania.