In our Anecdotal Evidence column, movers and shakers share personal stories聽of how intriguing (and often odd) presidential campaigning in their respective swing state can be.
Are Pennsylvanians bitter and cling to guns & religion?
John Baer. Photo: Lars Gesing/CU News Corps
John Baer 鈥� Political Columnist, Philadelphia Daily News
鈥淚n 2008, right in the heat of the Obama-Clinton primary, Obama was here, and it wasn鈥檛 going well for him because of Hillary鈥檚 ties to the state. He had been quoted at a San Francisco fundraiser as saying that the problem with Pennsylvania is that聽.
鈥淗e got into a lot of trouble for that.聽聽was, 鈥楾here he goes again. He is an elitist. He is making fun of people who have strong faith.鈥�
鈥淏ut actually, I wrote a column saying, 鈥樷��. That is exactly what Pennsylvanians do. My mother was an Irish-Catholic from the coal region. She was always p***ed off, and she always clung to her religion. My father was a journalist, but he was also a hunter. That鈥檚 what people do.
鈥淥bama was correct.鈥�
***
Why candidates truly matter in Pennsylvania in 2016
Chris Nicholas. Photo: Lars Gesing/CU News Corps
Chris Nicholas 鈥� Republican Consultant
鈥淔or the state in 2016, a lot depends on the candidate. Hillary Clinton has relatives in Scranton, Pennsylvania (her father鈥檚 birthplace). So does Joe Biden (he was born there).
鈥淪everal Republican presidential candidates were born and/or raised in southwestern Pennsylvania: Rand Paul was born in Pittsburgh. Rick Santorum and John Kasich are from here.聽(Editor鈥檚 note: Donald Trump has a聽)听
鈥淭here is a saying about Pennsylvania: 鈥業t鈥檚 where everyone鈥檚 grandparents are from.鈥� They were born here 鈥� and then they all left.鈥�
***
Make sure to also follow聽.