Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell today endorsed Shaughnessy Naughton in her bid to become the Democratic candidate to take on Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA 8) in November.
“I believe that Shaughnessy Naughton is the most qualified candidate and has the best chance to unseat Republican Mike Fitzpatrick in the fall,” Rendell said in a release.
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Rendell joined the Philadelphia Inquirer, who has also endorsed Naughton, as major names to back the congressional candidate.
Naughton said in the e-mail blast announcing the endorsement that “as a small business owner, I present a stark contrast to Mike Fitzpatrick. I know how to balance a budget, negotiate, and think long term. As Governor Rendell has said, ‘No business in this country has grown successful without investing in its own growth.’ Same goes for us. Unlike Mike Fitzpatrick, I understand that firsthand.”
Over the last two days, the Naughton and the campaign of Democratic Congressional Committee-backed Kevin Strouse have traded barbs and accusations about campaign donors, support from fracking executives to mutual funds that are invested in natural gas companies involved in natural gas extraction.
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To date, the former governor’s endorsement has to be among one of the biggest Naughton has garnered.
Strouse, earlier in the campaign earned the endorsements of Bucks County Commissioner Diane Marseglia, State Rep. Tina Davis and Pennsbury School Board President Jacqui Redner.
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The race has picked up steam and vitriol as primary day nears with the campaigns playing their own version of press release volleyball.
This weekend could prove to be very interesting for Democrats in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.
