Wolf makes rush-hour dash to 69th St. for Dem support
UPPER DARBY >> The 69th Street Transportation Center was made just a bit more hectic Tuesday morning when Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf stopped by to throw a last minute jolt of support for himself and his party colleagues running for office.
Among the thousands of commuters dashing off to their buses and trolleys at the transportation hub small groups of them were coming up to Wolf for pictures, selfies and small words of appreciation for his service during his first term as governor.
Wolf was getting the word out on his campaign while showing support to his party colleagues representing Delaware County including state Sen. Anthony Williams, 8-Philadelphia, state Rep. Margo Davidson, 164-Upper Darby, and Rep. Joanna McClinton, 191-Philadelphia. Democratic challengers in Swarthmore Mayor Tim Kearney who is running for state Sen. Tom McGarrigle’s seat in the 26th district, and Mike Zabel who is going against incumbent Jamie Santora for the 163rd House District seat, were also on hand to get Election Day encouragement from the governor.
“The foundation and responsibility of citizenship is voting, so we have to get out and vote,” said Wolf. “This is an especially important election in terms of taking back our democracy so we have to vote.
Wolf did not mention how he sees the state Legislature races or the congressional races shaping up in what are the first federal elections since Republican President Donald Trump won in a bitterly divisive 2016 campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I’m looking at this in terms of what we need to take our democracy back and we need to vote,” he said. “I’m hoping that people come out and take that responsibility seriously and that we end the day and look back saying we have no regrets.”
Davidson said Delaware County is ground zero for voters and that the Democrats really needed to turnout the vote.
“I’m really looking forward to Democrats picking up seats here in Delaware County in the house, and in Tim Kearney in the 26th Senatorial District,” she said. “I think people are already motivated and I think this (Wolf’s visit) is more of a thanks for getting out the vote, thanks for the excitement and enthusiasm.”
After meeting with senior Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey — a Democrat campaigning for a third term — during canvassing events in Swarthmore on Monday, Kearney said having Wolf in town is always encouraging to candidates and the party.
Wolf started his Election Day appearances at 69th Street before moving on to other Philadelphia locations throughout the morning. He voted in his hometown of Mt. Wolf in York County with his wife in the afternoon.