Fayette goes for Casey
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Edward G. Rendell defeated challenger Robert P. Casey Jr. in the state-wide primary for the party nomination to face Republican candidate Mike Fisher, but Casey soundly defeated Rendell in Fayette County by almost a 3-to-1 margin. With 96 percent of the county precincts reporting in at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Casey received 14,228 votes and Rendell 5,064, according to unofficial results.
The margin was a bit closer in Washington County where Casey won 8,339 votes and Rendell won 6,003, according to unofficial results.
In Greene County, Casey outpaced Rendell 3,949-1,779, according to unofficial results.
Casey’s performance in Fayette County came as no surprise to local officials.
“We knew Casey was going to win Fayette County big,” county Democratic Party Chairman Fred Ledber said. “That’s no surprise.”
“We provided a wide margin for Casey in Fayette County,” County Commissioner Vince Vicites said. “Our priorities are his priorities.”
Michael Cavanagh, brother of County Commissioner Sean Cavanagh and the Fayette County coordinator for Rendell’s campaign, said Rendell didn’t expect to win in Fayette County, but fully expected an overall victory.
“Our goal in Fayette County was 35 to 40 percent,” Cavanagh said. “We didn’t spend any money in Fayette County, we just worked hard. We’re definitely going to achieve our goal percentage wise in Fayette County.”
In the lieutenant governor’s race in Fayette County, Democrats Jack Wagner (6,203), Allen G. Kukovich (4,948) and Catherine Baker Knoll (4,268) led the field. Republican candidate Jane M. Earll received 2,424 votes.
In Washington County, Knoll won 5,408 votes, Wagner 4,769 and Kukovich 2,473. Earll received 3,207 votes.
In Greene County, Knoll received 2,053 votes, Wagner 1,629 and Kukovich 1,104.
Casey and his supporters were counting on a big victory in southwestern Pennsylvania, especially in Fayette County. His father, the late Gov. Robert Casey Sr., ran very well in Fayette County in both of his gubernatorial victories. He stressed the similarities between Fayette County and his hometown of Scranton and local residents seemed to feel a connection with him.
During his tenure he was widely praised in the county when he decided to put the Brownsville to Uniontown link back in the plans for the Mon-Fayette Expressway after it had been sidetracked. His popularity culminated in his 1990 victory over Republican Barbara Hafer when he garnered more support in Fayette County than in his home county. Casey’s father enjoyed a close relationship with Lebder, long-time chairman of the Fayette County Democratic Party, and he’s been careful to nurture that relationship. Lebder’s not the only local official who backed Casey though. He’s won the near unanimous support of elected officials in Fayette County, including Vicites and Cavanagh, who rarely agree on anything these days.
Casey also has campaigned very hard in Fayette County, making several stops including one last Thursday.
Rendell, on the other hand, made several stops in the area early in the campaign but concentrated his efforts over the last couple of weeks in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Among his few visible supporters has been former legislative candidate Michael Cavanagh, who is the local coordinator of Rendell’s campaign.
Once close political allies, the Cavanaghs have charted their own political courses in recent years. Michael Cavanagh said he simply differed with his brother on this particular race but he noted that they did support the same candidates in other races.