(From Friday's Philadelphia Inquirer:)
Gov. Rendell, Mayor Nutter and two of Hillary Rodham Clinton's top aides yesterday blasted Barack Obama's campaign for allegedly diminishing and disrespecting Pennsylvania's presidential primary.
In a national conference call with reporters, the foursome pointed to a memorandum written by Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, that referred to Pennsylvania as "only one of ten remaining contests."
Rendell predicted that the description would be "off-putting" to the state's Democratic voters. Nutter called it "one of the silliest things I've seen in recent times."
Never mind that Barack Obama already has eight field offices in Pennsylvania, with more on the way.
Never mind that he's already kicked off his campaign there ... even though the primary is six weeks away.
Never mind that Michelle Obama is holding rallies in Pennsylvania on a daily basis.
Never mind that Barack Obama has agreed to debate in that state.
Never mind that Barack Obama has raised more than $2 million dollars in Pennsylvania.
Never mind that he's already running commercials in Pennsylvania.
Never mind that he's going to press the flesh with voters from Pittsburgh to Punxsutawney, and everywhere in between.
Nope. Barack Obama just doesn't care about Pennsylvania enough.
He has had the audacity to suggest that while Pennsylvania matters, it isn't the only state that matters.
He has had the chutzpah to agree to debates in Pennsylvania ... and in North Carolina.
His campaign chairman has dared ... dared to suggest the following:
The key to victory is not who wins the states that the Clinton campaign thinks are important. The key to victory is realizing that every vote and every voter matters.
The mayor of Philadelphia has said that this is one of the silliest things he has seen in recent times.
Sillier than Geraldine Ferraro suggesting that Barack Obama is lucky to be an African-American.
Sillier than Hillary Clinton suggesting that John McCain would make a better commander in chief than Barack Obama.
Sillier than a whole bunch of silly, tragicomic things that have nothing to do with this campaign.
No, Barack Obama.
You're only allowed to dis a state after it holds its election.
Or maybe before, but only way, way, way before.
Or if it has too many black people in it.
Or if it usually votes Republican, even if it might vote Democrat this year.
Barack Obama, you silly, silly man. This is how it is done:
Hel-llooooooooo Harrisburg!
Me love you long time, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre!
We're just focused on our business here in Des Moines Milwaukee Austin Altoona!
That is what serious people say, when they are campaigning in serious states.