Bernie Sanders endorses Rich Lazer for Congress

Updated: MAY 11, 2018 — 4:13 PM EDT
by Holly Otterbein, Staff Writer @hollyotterbein | hotterbein@phillynews.com

Excerpts:

“Rich believes, as I do, that health care is a right, that free public education should extend through college, and that solving the student debt crisis is an urgent necessity,” said Sanders in a statement. “Rich will be a consistent voice for a bold, progressive agenda and will fight to create a government and an economy that works for us, not just wealthy corporate interests.”

Lazer has won the support of several labor unions, and one of his biggest backers is John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, the powerful and controversial leader of the city’s electricians union. A super PAC for Lazer was launched by Dougherty.

The Middle Class PAC has spent nearly $1 million on pro-Lazer TV advertising that will air through Monday, according to a source familiar with ad buys in the area. That dwarfs the amount of money that any individual campaign has spent broadcasting TV spots. Ballard Spahr attorney Mary Gay Scanlon has paid about $515,000 for TV advertising, while former U.S. assistant attorney Ashley Lunkenheimer has spent about $498,000.

“John made the endorsement happen,” said Keel. “He’s admired Sen. Sanders for years and met him on several occasions. John had recently reached out to him about the Fifth Congressional race and Rich’s candidacy. John and the senator spoke earlier today for a half hour or so about Rich’s progressive politics and years of experience. Sen. Sanders, who’d already done some homework on Rich, clearly liked what he’d heard and agreed to do the endorsement.”


http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/bernie-sanders-endorses-fifth-congress-district-pennsylvania-20180511.html