Independence Day Candidate Sightings

Over the weekend I went out and about with the family to various holiday events and outings. Since it's getting to be campaign season there were a number of candidates around. Here is a list of some of the big names I saw:

Ed Rendell (incumbent Dem governor)-- always smiling, always friendly
Lynn Swann (GOP candidate for governor)-- throwing little plastic football into the crowd
Rick Santorum (incumbent GOP senator) -- NEWSFLASH -- Santorum was wearing a short-sleeved shirt. Last December while writing the Reading Rick series of posts on his book, I looked through over 100 images of him on Google trying in vain to find one of him in short sleeves. Well, now I can tell you that there are no noticeable tattoos or disfigurations visible from across a two lane street. Mr. J. actually shook hands with him; not intentionally, Santorum caught him by surprise.
Jim Matthews (GOP candidate for lt governor) -- sensibly wore shorts given the weather (at least I think that was him).
Mike Fitzpatrick (incumbent GOP congressman for 8th district) -- he was in a place that he isn't usually at this time of year, which I took as a sign that he is a little worried about Patrick Murphy.
Raj Bhakta (GOP candidate for 13th congressional district) -- pink pants. interesting choice. Some of his campaign workers are aggressive to the point of being a little scary, hopping around, yelling and trying to get the crowd worked up. Note to campaign team -- small children find this behavior alarming.
Allyson Schwartz (incumbent Democrat congresswomen for 13th district) -- not hopping or yelling, but talking with people in what appeared to be calm tones.

There were a lot of local candidates around but none were wearing pink pants or hopping around or throwing little plastic footballs so I'll leave them alone. On a personal note I did get to hear bagpipes and once or twice a year I really enjoy that.