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Chuck Pennacchio is somewhat of a household name in cyber space. But in the more
earthly realm that is the political arena, his name recognition is a problem.
For those who don’t know him, the 45-year-old Pennacchio (pronounced pen-OCK-e-o) of Bucks County
is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in next year’s primary. His Democratic
opponent, state Treasurer Robert Casey Jr., a former two-term auditor general and gubernatorial candidate just three years
ago, is well known. Casey’s notoriety can also be attributed to his father and namesake, two-term Gov. Robert
Casey.
“People know him; they don’t know me yet,” acknowledges Pennacchio, a history program
director at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a former associate professor at Delaware Valley College. “That’s
going to change”...
Pennacchio, a first-time candidate, is trying to get his message and his name out via the Internet. He has
elicited the help of bloggers to advocate his candidacy and to seek campaign contributions. Bloggers
are those who dabble in blogs, Web pages that serve as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Run a Google search of “Pennacchio” and you’ll find a seemingly endless listing for this candidate.
He has modeled his unconventional political campaign largely after that of former Democratic presidential
candidate Howard Dean.
Dean, like Pennacchio, was not well known when he entered the race. But with the help of bloggers, talking
up his candidacy and rounding up numerous contributions, Dean emerged as the early front runner before losing the nomination
to John Kerry.
Instrumental in Pennacchio’s high-tech campaign is communications director Tim Tagaris, who was previously
recruited to do Web design work for the Democratic National Committee. “Bloggers are smart
people and extremely active. Politically, they want to make a difference,” Tagaris said. “Our campaign is about
using them and the Internet.”
Tagaris used the same strategy last year as communications director for political newcomer Jeff Seemann’s
Democratic congressional campaign against 32-year veteran Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula in Ohio’s 16th District.
Although Seemann lost by a 2-to-1 margin, his 101,817 votes were the most ever garnered by a Democratic
candidate in the GOP-dominated district.
Like Tagaris, Pennacchio has gained experience working on others’ campaigns, including those of former
presidential campaign Paul Simon of Illinois, and U.S. Sens. Tim Wirth of Colorado and Tom Harkin of Iowa.
Still, he knows Casey is the Democratic front-runner and has the backing of national and state party leaders.
Gov. Ed Rendell, who defeated Casey in the 2002 gubernatorial primary, in March endorsed his one-time opponent
after persuading former state Treasurer Barbara Hafer against seeking the nomination.
Almost simultaneously, former U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel also dropped out of the Democratic sweepstakes...
The aim of Democratic leaders was to clear the primary field for Casey before his expected election
showdown with Santorum...
But not so fast, said Pennacchio, who criticized the manner in which the party has rallied behind Casey.
“A lot of people are taking notice of what’s happening in Pennsylvania with the establishment
forming behind a single candidate, and people don’t like that,” he said. “They want there to be a debate.”
Pennacchio said while there was no orchestrated effort from leaders to convince him to forgo his candidacy,
he heard from what he characterized as five or six “party-established figures” who asked him to reconsider.
“They told me I had no right to run,” he said. “They told me the campaign was going to
drive me into debt or break up my family. They told me I’m going to lose badly; that I’d be humiliated and I’d
have no political future.”
He declined to identify the Democratic arm-twisters. But he said their tactics proved a point.
“I think that indicates the threat we pose in their minds,” he said, vowing to stay in the race.
Politically speaking, Pennacchio is generally considered more left of center than Casey. But he shies away
from any liberal label, preferring “progressive” to describe his bent.
“To me, a liberal tends to be more ideological and rigid,” he said. “A progressive is
more open-minded and puts the emphasis on ‘progress.’”
He focuses on two issues, abortion and gun control, to draw contrasts between himself and Casey.
“I’m a pro-choice Democrat,” Pennacchio said, “‘and he’s an anti-choice
Democrat.”
While Casey, like Santorum, is a self-described pro-life advocate, Pennacchio supports abortion rights.
But, he said, abortions should be rare, as well as safe and legal.
“The best way to reduce abortions is not to criminalize women or doctors but to give women a true
choice with life affirming support, like pre-natal and post natal programs, early childhood education and economic opportunities,”
he said.
Pennacchio backs stricter gun laws. Casey generally rejects new gun restrictions, and instead has called
for beefed up enforcement of current laws.
On other issues, Pennacchio said he supports universal health care, advocates raising the wage base taxed
by Social Security and enacting living wage legislation to fix the government’s retirement system for workers, and urges
more funding for Homeland Security.
He said he also opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and believes the nation’s centerpiece in fighting
terrorism should be building international alliances.
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