Democracy Has Prevailed.

December 21, 2004

Breaking News? Not Hardly!

Today WTAE's "Channel 4 Action News at Noon" reported as breaking news that Pittsburgh's own Mayor Murphy will not be running for a fourth term.

Well, DUH!

OK, OK, the actual news was that he made an official statement that he wouldn't be running as he signed the city's budget.

Murphy stated that the reason that he is not running for reelection is "purely personal." According to WTAE, Murphy said that his decision was not based on polls or whether or not he could win.

Yeah, right.

I mean, after all, we're talking about a Democratic mayor in a heavily Democratic city who got boos at the mention of his name at a Democratic rally for Kerry. We're talking about a guy who inspired callers to local talk radio to call for his recall during the whole California recall mess. Murphy may actually be the least popular person in all of Pittsburgh!

Local Democrats were lining up around the block for the job months ago as everyone knew that Murphy didn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of keeping the office.

Word is, however, that many have reputedly backed off (like City Council President Gene Ricciardi) because PA Governor Rendell is backing Bob O'Conner (who almost beat Murphy in 2001).

Murphy won by less than 700 votes last time around.

The estimated "price tag" for this race is one million bucks.

Does that rule out a progressive like City Council member Bill Peduto? We certainly hope not (and we hear that his people are pushing him to run).

Let the race begin! (officially now)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yep, Peduto is a progressive, but so was Smurfy. Exactly what we don't need again, a progressive with big plans. If O'Connor has Fast Eddie's ear, that's the kinda progress we need. Peduto belongs in Congress, not in the Mayor's Office.

Maria said...

I could see him in Congress, but as Doyle is OK, he would need to move to Hart's district to challenge her. Couldn't really see him talking on Lil Ricky 'Man on Dog Action' Santorum statewide. (Need more of a name for that one.)