Clinton endorses Wofford, Singel

President Clinton canvassed for Senator Harris Wofford, Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel and other Democratic candidates at a campaign rally in Philadelphia's City Hall courtyard yesterday. Welcomed by several minutes of cheers and applause, Clinton described the upcoming election as crucial to cement the progress made by his administration. "This country is in better shape than it was 21 months ago," he said. "This election represents a simple choice between going forward and going back." Blaming past domestic problems on conservative politicians who were elected by voters "who took the easy way out," Clinton lauded the Pennsylvania Democratic candidates' commitment to their constituents. "He doesn't always vote for me, but he always votes for you," Clinton said of Wofford's voting record in the Senate. "We need men and women in Congress who will keep their promises." Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell praised Clinton for accomplishments in both domestic and foreign affairs. "Make no mistake about it, this president is on a roll," Rendell said, adding that he is particularly happy with the crime bill that recently passed through Congress. "For 12 years, Washington D.C. didn't invest a penny in a city like Philadelphia," Rendell said. Wofford addressed Clinton with similar praise. "Mr. President, against big roadblocks, you have shown you are a builder," he said. "You practice the politics of hope, and not the politics of fear." Wofford continued to rail against conservatives during his campaign speech, in which he criticized the elitism of his opponent, Congressman Rick Santorum (R -Pa.). "Mr. President, friends, I'm running against a two-term, two-faced Congressman who thinks government should fight for the wealthiest one percent who have it made," he said. "He says we can't afford to take action to help the middle class, only the privileged class and the political class." Other democratic candidates also fired up the audience by speaking against Republican candidates who practice Reagan-Bush era politics. Singel, who is running in a tight race for governor against Republican candidate Tom Ridge, declared to the largely blue-collar audience that "we will not go back to the Dark Ages of high society economics." "There are 12 million people in Pennsylvania. Hopefully, the race is about those people, not the elite few," Singel added. "I'm for the bus drivers, not the bankers." Holding signs that read simply, "GO BILL" and "Compassion," audience members at the rally said it was the candidates themselves, more than the weak points of their opponents, which won their support. "Let me tell you, Clinton's our man," said Sue Wess, who came to the rally with her husband Bill and their five-year-old granddaughter Laura. "I love him -- I think he's doing a great job. I don't think he's gotten enough credit for what he's done, truly." Philadelphia resident Beatrice Esse said while she is excited about the Democratic candidates, much of her support is triggered by disgust with the GOP. "I approve of the president's policy, and I approve of Senator Wofford and Mark Singel," she said. "At least they are honest." Not all of the audience members were enthusiastic about the candidates, though. Dressed in an old-fashioned gray-and-white striped prisoner's uniform, Wharton senior Ken Martin said he thinks Singel is appallingly soft on crime. "We feel that Mark Singel is as dangerous as the most violent criminal he set free," said Martin, referring to Reginald McFadden, a criminal pardoned by Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey, who was later arrested in New York on charges of rape and kidnapping. Singel sat on the Pardons Board that recommended McFadden's release.