Democratic Party leaders worry about costly, fractious primary battle

Wednesday, August 06, 2003

By Lara Jakes Jordan, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- An Internet entrepreneur who has never run for political office said yesterday that he will seek election to the U.S. Senate, bucking Democratic Party leaders who have already lined up behind another Pennsylvania candidate.

Charlie Crystle, a 36-year-old software developer from Lancaster, will face Rep. Joseph Hoeffel in a Democratic primary for the seat now held by Republican Sen. Arlen Specter.

Specter will face an April 27 primary of his own, against Rep. Pat Toomey.

Democratic Party leaders in Washington and Harrisburg had hoped to avoid any primary battles that would eat up energy and money before they face the winner of the bruising GOP battle between Specter and Toomey. But Crystle said his candidacy should "strengthen the Democratic Party" by offering voters a choice.

"People are hurting, and I know I can do something about it," Crystle said in a telephone interview yesterday. "We need to have a transformational election, where we elect people who are going to lead with practical solutions for everybody -- not just the rich."

Crystle said his campaign platform will focus on Republican policies of the Bush administration, which he blamed for damaging the national economy and ultimately, the middle class.

But Crystle must first get past Hoeffel and his ardent Democratic supporters, including Gov. Ed Rendell. Crystle, who has said he made $5 million in 1999 when he sold his share of a software company that he helped found, said he will spend up to $1 million of his own money on the campaign. At last count, Hoeffel had $235,630 in the bank but has said he hopes to raise as much as $10 million.

Specter, meanwhile, has $8.6 million in his campaign account, and Toomey has $1.5 million.

Crystle's "entry into the race certainly doesn't help the Democrats' ability to prevail in the fall," said Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney. "We do not need a divisive primary, and quite frankly, I think the support is solidifying for Congressman Hoeffel. ... And I can guarantee it would take Mr. Crystle a lot more than a million dollars to prevail in this race."

Hoeffel, vacationing in Wyoming, could not be reached for comment, his spokesman said.

His campaign consultant, Ken Snyder, said: "It's difficult to address someone we don't know -- as no Pennsylvanians do either."

Crystle said he would file his Federal Election Commission statement of candidacy yesterday afternoon.

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