A Note from Team Joe

The campaign manager for Joe Hoeffel's lt. gov. campaign has sent an email to supporters and volunteers. With his permission, I am excerpting part of it here.

First of all, I want to personally thank everyone who circulated petitions for Joe and started to contribute money to his campaign. Unfortunately as many of you have read in the news by now, Governor Rendell has changed his mind about Joe entering the race. Certainly we wish he had conveyed that message to Joe three weeks ago, but in the world of politics, sometimes things change very fast.

Later in the email he says:

You all would have been proud to see Joe’s graceful and genuine demeanor in the face of yesterday’s disappointment. He was appreciative and positive with every supporter and reporter he spoke with, and refused to speak negatively of the situation.

For those out there thinking there was some quid-pro-quo to get Joe out of the race, please be assured there was not. I have first-hand knowledge that no “deal” was cut between Joe and Gov. Rendell, and want to assure all our supporters that Joe has more integrity than that and genuinely just wanted to run for public office. Gov. Rendell, while we disagree with his change of mind, has enough ethical sense not to make that overture.

I thought the email was well-written and sincere.

Hoeffel also sent out an email, thanking his supporters, volunteers and contributors. Having heard Hoeffel speak and having talked with him personally, I found his words believable and from the heart. The exact words are not included because I did not want to intrude in what is no doubt a difficult time by asking if I could post part or all of it.