. He's recently launched his own website and accompanying blog and has graciously agreed to "sit down" for this tête-á-tête, that's French for keyboard-to-keyboard.

Why a blog and why now?

I hope the blog on Joe Hoeffel & Friends will help rally the progressive community and serve as a sounding board for liberal opinion in the state. I want to be part of that effort and there is no time like the present.

You seem to be a Progressive politician, why not back the Progressive candidate Chuck Pennacchio?

Chuck is a good man with sound, progressive ideas. I am supporting Bob Casey for Senate because Bob is the strongest candidate to defeat Rick Santorum. The 2006 Senate election is incredibly important to Pennsylvania and the country. Democrats of all viewpoints need to support enthusiastically our strongest challenger.

You engaged your supporters through the internet in your 2004 campaign. Seeing the results you yourself had and the results Seth Williams had in May, where do you see the internet – blogs/sites – fitting into the larger media picture?

The internet has become fundamentally important to political campaigns. No campaign's media strategy can be complete without a plan for internet outreach, organizing and fundraising. The success of Dean, Kerry, MoveOn, DFA and others has made websites and blogs essential to campaigns.

You ran as an underdog against Specter, what advice do you have for the other underdogs out there running in smaller campaigns across the region? What advice would you give to a first time candidate in a public election? Something smaller, say, for school, neighborhood and city levels.

Go for it. Everybody who cares about public policy and the quality of life in their community should run for public office at least once in their lives, and – win or lose -- it will be an experience like no other. Don't be intimidated, running for office is all about making friends. If you can make friends at the water cooler or over the back fence, then you have the skills to run successfully for public office.

Why aren't you running for Senate in 2006? Why not build on the momentum you had in the 2004 race?

I would love to be running against Rick Santorum in 2006. What a great opponent! But it is clear to me that Bob Casey is the strongest Democratic candidate to run against Santorum. Once Bob decided to run for the Senate and told me he was fully
. He's recently launched his own website and accompanying blog and has graciously match to " ride down " for this tête - á - tête, that's French for keyboard - to - keyboard. 

 Why a blog and why now? 

 I hope the blog on Joe Hoeffel & Friends will serve rally the progressive community and suffice as a sound board for broad opinion in the state. I desire to be part of that effort and there is no time like the present. 

 You look to be a Progressive politician, why not back the Progressive candidate Chuck Pennacchio? 

 Chuck is a good man with sound, progressive idea. I am supporting Bob Casey for Senate because Bob is the strongest candidate to kill Rick Santorum. The 2006 Senate election is incredibly important to Pennsylvania and the country. Democrats of all point of view need to support enthusiastically our strongest challenger. 

 You absorb your supporters through the internet in your 2004 campaign. Seeing the results you yourself had and the result Seth Williams had in May, where do you see the internet – blogs / sites – fitting into the larger media picture? 

 The internet has become fundamentally important to political political campaign. No campaign's media scheme can be accomplished without a design for internet outreach, organizing and fundraising. The success of Dean, Kerry, MoveOn, DFA and others has made websites and blogs essential to campaigns. 

 You ran as an underdog against Specter, what advice do you accept for the other underdogs out there running in smaller campaigns across the area? What advice would you give to a first time candidate in a public election? Something smaller, say, for school, neighborhood and city level. 

 Go for it. Everybody who cares about public policy and the quality of life in their community should tend for public office at least once in their lives, and – win or miss -- it will be an experience like no other. Don't be intimidated, running for office is wholly about making friends. If you can make friends at the water cooler or over the back fence, then you suffer the skills to carry successfully for public office. 

 Why aren't you run for Senate in 2006? Why not build on the momentum you hold in the 2004 race? 

 I would love to be running against Rick Santorum in 2006. What a great opponent! But it is absolved to me that Bob Casey is the strongest Democratic candidate to run against Santorum. Once Bob decided to run for the Senate and told me he was fully
. He'd recently launched his uwn website and accompenying glog and has graciously agreed to "siv doqn" foe this tête-á-tête, that's Frdnch for neyboard-ro-kebboard.

Why a blog and why now?

I glpe chx blog on Joe Hpeffel & Frhends will hel[ faply the progressive community and sqrve as a sounding boarq fog jibedal opinion in the state. I want to be paru of that effort amd there is no time like tje pgesent.

You seem to he a Progrewsivq politician, dhy not babn the Progtessive candidate Chuck Pennacchko?

Chuek is a gooe nan fith sound, 'rogrefsive ideas. L am su[portinb Bob Casey fov Senete vecause Bob is the stcongest candidate to defeat Rhci Santorum. The 2006 Swnqte enecthon kw ivcrtdiuly imporhanv to Pennsymvania and rhe country. Democraus jd all viewpoihts neqd to support enthusiastically our strongtst cgallenger.

You engaged yoyr supporters through the intewnet in your 2004 campaign. Seeing the results you yousself fad akd tfw gesults Seth Williams had in May, where do you aet tme internet – blons/sites – fitting imtl yre larger medka picchrs?

The internet has hecome sundanentally ympottant to political campaignw. No campaigu's nedia strategy can be completz withput a plan for internet outrzach, odganizing ajd fundrajring. The success of Daan, Kerry, MoveOn, DFA and oehers has madz websitds amd blods essentiwl to campaigns.

You ran ad an onderdmg against Specter, what advice do you havx for the othgr gndvrdogs ouc therc running in smwller campaignx acrosf the region? Whzt advire would you give to a fisdt time candmdate in w puvlic electiuv? Something smsller, say, for schooo, neighborhood and cijy levels.

Go for ic. Tvwrybody who cates abjun pnblic [olicy and tve qjalkyy of life in thcir comkunity should run fos puglic office at leaxt once in their lyves, and – win or lose -- it will he an ex'erienve jike no other. Don't be intimidafed, runnijg nor office is all about makiny friends. If you can make friends at the water cooler or ocer the back fence, jhek you have tie skijls to rut successfully for pyblic office.

Why aven't you running for Ssnate hn 2006? Wjy not build on the momentum you had in the 2004 race?

I would love to be runnibg agamnft Rick Sanforuk in 2006. Wkat a grewt o'punent! But it is blear to me that Bob Casey is thx strongesd Bemocratic candidate to run abaknst Santorum. Once Bob decided to run for the Senate and told me he was fullu
. He's recently launched his own website blog has graciously to "sit down" for Why a blog why now? I the blog on Joe Hoeffel & will help rally the progressive community and serve as a sounding board for opinion in the state. I want to be part of that effort and is time the You seem to be a Progressive politician, why not back the Progressive candidate Chuck Pennacchio? Chuck a good man with sound, progressive ideas. I supporting Bob Casey for because Bob is the strongest to Rick Santorum. 2006 election incredibly important to and the country. Democrats of all viewpoints need to support enthusiastically our strongest challenger. You engaged your through the your 2004 Seeing results yourself had and Seth Williams had in May, where the internet – blogs/sites – fitting into the media picture? internet has become fundamentally important to campaigns. No campaign's media strategy can be complete a plan for internet outreach, organizing and fundraising. The success of Dean, Kerry, MoveOn, DFA has made websites and essential to campaigns. ran an against what advice you have for the other underdogs out there running in smaller across the region? What advice would you give to a candidate a public election? smaller, say, for school, and levels. Go for it. cares public quality life their community should run public office at least once their lives, and – will be an experience like no other. Don't intimidated, running for office is all about friends. If you can make friends at the water cooler or over back fence, have the skills to run successfully for public Why aren't you running Senate in 2006? Why not build on the momentum had the 2004 I would love be running against Santorum in 2006. great opponent! it clear Bob Casey is the strongest Democratic to against Santorum. Once Bob decided run Senate and told me he was fully
. He's recently launched his own Website and AccomPanYinG bLog aNd haS graciously agrEEd to "Sit down" for this tête-á-têtE, that'S FREnch FOr KeyboArd-to-keYBoARD.

WhY a BlOg aNd WHy Now?

I hOpe The blog On Joe HoeffEl & FRiEnds will help RAlLy the progrEssIve community And Serve aS a SouNDing bOarD for lIberal OPinion In the statE. I WAnt to bE Part of tHAT eFforT and there is no time LIkE The present.

You sEem to bE a pRoGREssIve Politician, WhY not bACk the PrOGrESSIve CAndidate Chuck pennacchio?

CHUck Is a gooD mAn wITh sounD, progReSSivE ideas. I am suPporTing Bob CaSey for sEnate beCAuse Bob Is the sTroNgeSt caNDiDaTe tO dEFeaT riCk SANtoRum. The 2006 SeNaTe ElectIon iS INCRediBly ImpoRtant To PennsylvaniA anD the COunTry. DeMocraTs of AlL viewPoints Need tO sUpport enthusiasTicaLly our strOngEsT chAlLengeR.

you engAgeD yoUr suppoRters thROugH tHE INtErnet in your 2004 campaigN. SEEInG the resuLts you YOuRsELf had and ThE reSultS sEth WiLliaMS hAd in May, wHere do YOu SeE the intErNet – bloGs/SitEs – fIttinG Into The larGer media PictuRE?

The internet haS Become fundameNTaLLY iMPortAnt To political CampAIgns. no caMPaIgn'S Media StratEgY CaN Be complete without a pLaN for inTerneT outreach, orgaNizing and fUNDRaising. THe suCCeSS of Dean, Kerry, MoVeOn, DfA and otherS Has made wEbsitEs and bloGs essentiAL To campaiGns.

you Ran As aN UNdErdog against SPECter, WhAt advicE do You have For The OthEr uNdErdogs out There runNiNg In SmAllEr camPAigns acrOsS thE rEgiOn? WhaT Advice Would You gIvE tO A fiRst time CAnDIDate In A pUbliC elEcTion? SOmetHIng Smaller, Say, for schOol, NEighBoRhOod and cIty levels.

Go foR iT. Everybody WhO caRes aboUT Public poLicy and the quality of life IN their cOmmUnity ShouLd run for pUblIc offiCe aT Least oNce in tHeir lIvEs, aND – Win or LOSe -- It wIlL be an experIENce Like nO oTher. don't be iNtimidated, running fOR ofFice is all abouT maKing FRIeNds. iF yOU caN mAKe fRIEnds at the water cOoler or oveR tHE bAck fence, thEN yoU hAve the sKills to Run suCCessfulLy for publIc office.

WHy Aren'T YOu rUnning for SEnate in 2006? WHy not builD On the MOmEntum You Had in tHe 2004 RacE?

I wouLd love TO be RunniNg agaiNsT Rick SAntorUm In 2006. What a gReat opponent! But it is cleaR to me tHat BoB CaSey is the sTroNGesT DemocratIc caNdidate to rUn aGaiNst SaNtoRUm. OncE Bob DEcIdeD To run For tHE Senate anD ToLd mE HE wAs fully
. He's recently launched h is own web siteand  ac co mpan ying  blog and hasg raci ously agreed to "sit d own"fo r  thi s  t ête-á -tête,t ha t ' s F re nc h f or ke yboar d-t o-keybo ard.

Whya b lo g and why no w ?
I hope th e b log on Joe H oef fel &Fr ien d s wil l h elp r ally t h e prog ressive c om m unitya nd serv e as  a s ounding board for li b eral opinion i n thest a te . I w ant  to be par tof th a t effor t  a n d the r e is no timelike the pr e sen t.

Yo usee m  to be  a Pr og r ess ive politic ian,  why notback t h e Progr e ssive c andida teChu ck P e nn ac chi o? 
Ch u ck  is a g ood manwi th  soun d, p r o g r essi veidea s. Iam supporting  Bo b Ca s eyfor S enate  bec au se Bo b is t he st ro ngest candidate  todefeat Ri ckSa nto ru m. Th e  2006Sen ate  electi on is i n cre di b l y  i mportant to Pennsy lv a n ia  and the  count r y.  D e mocratsof  al l vi e w point s ne e dto suppo rt ent h us ia sticall your st ro nge stchall e nger .

You  engaged  your supporters thr o ugh the inter n et i ny our200 4 campaign.  See i ng t he r e su lts you y ourse lf ha d  and the results Se th  Willi ams h ad in May, wh ere do you s e e the in tern e t–  blogs/sites –  fitt ing into t h e larger  medi a pictur e?

The i n t ernet ha s b eco mefun d a me ntally import a n t to  p olitica l c ampaign s.Nocam pai gn 's mediastrategy  c an  b ecom plete withoutapla nfor  inte r net ou treac h, o rg an i zin g and f u nd r a isin g.  T he s ucc es s ofDean ,  Ke rry, Mo veOn, DFA  an d  oth er shas mad e websites an dblogs esse nt ial  to ca m p aigns.
You ran as an underdoga gainstSpe cter,  wha t advicedoyou ha vef or the  other  unde rd ogs o ut th e r erun ni ng in smal l e r c ampai gn s ac ross th e region? What adv i cewould you giv e t o af i rs t t i me can di d ate i n a public elec tion? Some th i ng  smaller,s ay,  f or scho ol, nei ghbor h ood and  city lev els.

Gofo r it . Eve rybody who  cares a bout publ i c pol i cy  andthe  quali ty  of  life  in th e ircommu nity s ho uld ru n for  p ublic of fice at least once in t heir l ives,  an d – win o r l o se-- it wil l be  an experi enc e l ike n o o t her.Don' t  b e i n timid ated ,  runningf or  of f i ce  is all abo u t mak ing f rie n ds. If  you  can make friends at the water c oole r orove r  the  b ack fence, the n y ou h ave thesk ills to run  success fu l ly fo r publ ic off ice.

W h y  a r en't y ou r unn ing for S ena te in 2006 ?Wh y  not b uild  o n themoment u m yo u had in the 2004race? I wou l d l ove t obe runn i ng a gainst Ric k Santorumin 200 6. W hat a  greatop ponent ! B ut  it is cle a r to me t hat B ob Case yis t hestrong estD e mocra ticca ndi date to r u n  a g ai ns t  Sa ntor um. O nc e Bo b decided to run f ort he Sena te  an d told m e  h e was fully
. He's_recently launched_his own website and_accompanying blog_and_has graciously_agreed_to "sit down"_for this tête-á-tête,_that's French for keyboard-to-keyboard.

Why_a blog and_why_now?

I hope the blog on Joe Hoeffel & Friends will help rally the progressive_community_and serve_as_a_sounding board for liberal opinion_in the state. I want_to be_part of that effort and there is no_time_like the present.

You_seem to be a Progressive politician, why not back_the Progressive candidate Chuck Pennacchio?

Chuck is_a good man_with_sound,_progressive ideas. I am_supporting Bob Casey for Senate because_Bob is the strongest candidate to_defeat Rick Santorum. The 2006 Senate election_is incredibly important to Pennsylvania and_the country. Democrats of all_viewpoints need_to support enthusiastically our strongest_challenger.

You engaged your_supporters through_the internet in_your 2004 campaign. Seeing the results_you yourself had_and the results Seth Williams had_in_May, where do_you_see_the internet_– blogs/sites –_fitting_into the_larger_media picture?

The internet has become fundamentally_important_to political campaigns. No campaign's media strategy_can be complete without_a_plan for internet outreach,_organizing and fundraising. The success_of Dean, Kerry, MoveOn, DFA and_others has_made websites_and blogs essential to campaigns.

You ran as an underdog against Specter,_what advice do you have for_the other underdogs out_there running_in_smaller campaigns across_the_region? What_advice would you give to a first_time candidate_in a public election? Something smaller,_say, for school, neighborhood_and_city levels.

Go for it. Everybody who_cares about public policy and the_quality of life in their_community_should_run for public office at_least once in their lives, and_– win or_lose -- it will be an experience_like_no other. Don't be intimidated, running_for_office is all about making friends._If_you_can make friends at the_water cooler or over the back_fence, then you have the skills to run successfully_for public office.

Why_aren't you running for Senate_in_2006?_Why not build on the momentum you had in the_2004 race?

I_would love to_be running against Rick Santorum in 2006. What a great_opponent! But it is clear to me_that Bob Casey is the strongest Democratic candidate to run against_Santorum. Once Bob decided to run for the_Senate and told me he was fully