Pennsylvania Politics -- The Dems are Getting Dirty Already

The mud slinging has begun already. Polls reveal that little Billy Scranton runs almost even with incumbent Fast Eddie Rendell in next year's Gubenatorial contest, so the mud is starting to flow.

Many years ago Scranton was involved in a religious cult led by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He claims that it is all behind him, but the Democrats are not so sure. Witness this hack job by Ron Guntzberger:

Former Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton III (R) has been less than candid how he and his campaign are spinning his close and continuing ties to the purported international pseudo-religious cult led by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi -- despite his claims these connections no longer exist. With polls now showing Scranton running within a few points of incumbent Governor Ed Rendell (D), voters have a right to know what influence these cult connections could have on how Scranton would govern the state if elected.

In 1986, Scranton saw his gubernatorial campaign get derailed in the final days when his Democratic opponent launched a hard-hitting spot that attacked Scranton’s ties to past drug use and the Maharishi. Scranton has long explained that he first became involved in the Maharishi's movement when he had a drug problem and they helped him quit. The “Guru” spot, as it was called -- with sitar music playing in the background -- even used an old photo of a youthful Scranton with long hair and a beard. Days later, Scranton’s lead evaporated and he narrowly lost the race.

To avoid a repeat of the 1986 implosion, Scranton’s current gubernatorial campaign now likes to downplay those past problems. “People look at things like this much differently now then they did in 1986. No one will care that Bill likes to go off and spend fifteen minutes meditating at the end of each day,” campaign spokesman Mike Devaney told Politics1. The truth of Scranton’s close involvement with the Maharishi cult, however, consists of much more than just a few minutes a day spent alone in quiet contemplation. Considering this is a cult group that advocates a universal government, a one-world currency, and has a detailed political platform -- with the Maharishi touting himself as world's new leader ("Founder of the Global Country of World Peace") -- these connections could well have serious import into the Governor's Mansion should Scranton win next year.

Read the whole thing here.

This could be a real problem for Scranton, but there is good news for the Republicans buried in all the muck. The fact that Scranton, with all his baggage, is running close to Rendell shows how very weak the incumbent's support really is. Rendell has been an exceptionally inept governor who has alienated groups all across the state, except apparently in his Philadelphia stronghold where he still polls well. If the Republicans put forward a strong candidate and run a reasonably effective campaign, they should be able to take him.

Unfortunately the best candidate they have lacks name recognition.