Well, that’s going to leave a mark:
Jo Ann Nardelli, a state committeewoman and founding president of the Blair County Federation of Democratic Women, has switched her political affiliation to the GOP, citing her Catholic faith and President Obama’s embrace of gay marriage as reasons.
Via @biggator5. More here, and a bit of why this is actually kind of significant, on an organizational level:
Nardelli, 59, a former borough council member in Newry, outside Altoona, registered as a Democrat after high school and rose to the party’s executive board. She was vice president of the women’s caucus and first vice president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women when she quit last week.
“This was not an easy decision,” Nardelli said. “I prayed over it.”
[snip]
Patty Flanagan, a Democratic State Committee member from Altoona, said the Republican Party “has hit the lottery (by gaining) Jo Ann Nardelli. She is an incredibly hard worker, passionate and loves people. Sometimes, I swear she doesn’t sleep.”
This news, of course, does not put Pennsylvania in play for the GOP. It does, however, suggest that the Democrats should start taking more seriously what might happen – as somebody once put it – when one rushes over old friends in order to make new ones. Because this won’t help Pennsylvanian Democrats, and they’re already being expected to reproduce 2008’s results, only without the same resource base this time.
My Sad Face is really getting a workout today, huh?
“citing her Catholic faith and President Obama’s embrace of gay marriage as reasons”
.
But Obama’s stance on abortion, especially his opposition to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act while in Illinois, apparently didn’t trouble her Catholic faith one bit.
Sir – I must respectfully disagree with you. I do think PA is in play for the GOP this year. Whether they ultimately get it or not will be a different story, but in light of how they’ve shifted to the right over the last two years – Republican governor, State House, and State Senate, a variety of new Republican congressional reps, and now, a Tea Party Senator. I also think Obama’s anti-coal and “bitter clinger” remark will hurt too. He’s well under 50% there. Of course, there I go again trying to be an optimist!
That’s some sad face! 😉
Have to agree with Jetty, after his pro abortion stances and Catholic bashing, gay marriage caused her to flip?
@Spegen: I’m thinking it was the “the straw that broke the camel’s back” kind of deal. Obama has been pro-abortion for some time now. The gay marriage thing is new.
I’m fairly certain Ms. Nardelli was aware Obama was both pro-abortion and gay marriage. As long as he kept silent, Catholics and Democrats could wink to each other and keep on. I’m Catholic, but deeply troubled by this belief that somehow we could exist in a Catholic ghetto of sorts with an ‘exemption’ from Obamacare as well. If this flips that rock over, so much the better. (eek, metaphor alert)
I don’t see Obama winning Montgomery or Bucks counties again, I think Pennsylktuckey will go huge for Not-Necessarily-Skyrocket and that Philly turnout is depressed. This might just happen.
Plus, please, please, PLEASE let Casey-the-Lesser get tossed on his ear.