Rendell recently had one of his cabinet appointees send a letter to the state's counties saying that it's OK for voters to wear clothing or buttons showing their support for a candidate (presumably Obama) at the polls on Election Day.
Two things wrong with that position. State law prohibits "passive electioneering" and the state cannot impose its will on Pennsylvania counties, which are in charge of running their own elections.
Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties can choose to enforce the existing ban on "passive electioneering" but Rendell and the ACLU are trying to confuse people and promote the Obama campaign.
That's a sign of how desperate the Democrats are getting about Pennsylvania, which could decide the 2008 presidential race. Why does the Rendell/ACLU position help Obama? Many of Obama's supporters are first-time voters or college kids who may not be familiar with voting laws. They are more likely to come dressed up in their Obama paraphernalia.
Pennsylvania Republicans are going to court to get a ruling on the existing state law, but that move isn't really necessary. It's up to individual counties to enforce the law, which means elections officials can force people to remove Obama campaign buttons or T-shirts or hats before they are allowed to enter a polling site.
From a Philadelphia Inquirer story:
"We strongly believe Pennsylvanians should be able to look to the polling place as a safe harbor, free of any type of electioneering, without any outside influences," Robert Gleason, chairman of the state Republican Party, said at a Capitol news conference.Read the full story at the newspaper's Web site.
And if you see any "passive electioneering" at your polling site, make sure you contact county officials right away.
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