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Phil Berg, Murray Levin & Bob Rovner: The Underdogs
Sunday, March 26, 2000 By Jack Torry and James O'Toole, Post-Gazette Staff Writers
PHILADELPHIA -- Deciding he needed a bit of inspiration for his long-shot quest for the Senate Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania, Murray Levin grabbed one of his many history books to read about Abraham Lincoln's two unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate in the 1850s.
The lesson was clear: Lincoln's political career did not end with his defeat by Stephen Douglas in the 1858 Senate race in Illinois. And Levin does not see his political career shattering if he loses the April 4 Democratic primary.
"I win either way," said Levin, 57, at his law office with its panoramic view of downtown Philadelphia and the Schuylkill River. "I'm happy to have had the experience."
Sharing the experience and the long odds, and exhibiting similar zest for both, are Montgomery County lawyer Phil Berg, and Bob Rovner, a former Republican state senator who changed his registration to join this six-person field. Polls suggest none of the three lawyers has much of a chance.
"I agree it's a long shot," Levin mused in a recent interview. "I think what I'm doing would be a long shot to win, but I wouldn't say it would be a miracle. I think we're in the fight and have a chance to win. ... Am I the front-runner? No. Do I have a chance of winning on Tuesday April 4? Yes."
Win or lose, Levin clearly hopes that by spending more than $100,000 and taking part in televised debates he will increase his name recognition and make himself a stronger candidate in the future.
"My whole life has been a preparation to be a senator," Levin said.
He earned a law degree and a master's degree in international relations from Harvard in the 1960s and returned to Philadelphia where he served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge A. Leon Higginbotham. He is a senior partner at Pepper Hamilton, one of the largest Philadelphia law firms, although he has taken a leave of absence to devote full time to his campaign.
He decided to run for the Senate after former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell and Pennsylvania Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr., decided against challenging Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. Levin said he "looked at the field as it was emerging" and concluded he was as qualified as Rep. Ron Klink, D-Murrysville, state Sen. Allyson Schwartz of Philadelphia and former state Labor Secretary Tom Foley.
"With some immodesty, I thought to myself that I had something different and better to offer and I decided to offer it," Levin said. "The stars lined up well. I thought there was a candidate [Santorum] out there who needed to be defeated for the good of this state and this country. I did not feel there was a strong favorite who would clearly win the primary and be the favorite to win the election."
So with little more than the help of his wife, Lonnie, two daughters, and a few close friends, Levin entered the race. The drawback was obvious. In contrast to Klink, Schwartz and Foley -- all who have run for office before -- Levin (pronounced Luh-vin) is a virtual unknown. He has run television commercials on all three major Philadelphia stations and has made more than 150 public appearances even though he does not attract crowds.
Berg, who practices law in Layfayette Hill, Montgomery County, graduated from Temple University and the University of Toledo law school. He is no stranger to being a long shot, having run without success for public office seven times, including two primary races for governor. In the 1994 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor he came in sixth in an eight-person field led by Foley.
In the final weeks of this race, Berg is traveling around the state in the "Bergmobile," carrying what he has styled as his "pro-choice, pro-gun message," to the Democratic voters. Berg has also distinguished himself from the rest of the field by campaigning against public aid to build new sports stadiums in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Rovner is a former prosecutor and has been endorsed by a onetime colleague, Philadelphia District Attorney Lynn Abraham. In his former life as a Republican, he was once the youngest member of the state Senate. The Temple University and law school graduate practiced law after his Senate term in the early 1970s. He also hosts his own radio talk show on a Philadelphia area station.
In his ads and in personal appearances, Rovner insists he is the candidate with the best chance of beating Santorum. He denounces the incumbent as "the alphabet senator," claiming Santorum is too beholden to special interests, including HMOs and the NRA.
In the first campaign reporting period, Levin reported contributions of $107,565; Rovner $159,247, and Berg $0. Rovner has donated more than $1 million to his own campaign and says he is willing to spend up to $1.5 million of his own money, allowing him to advertise in television markets throughout the state. If he does spend that much, his campaign spending might outpace one or more of the three leading contenders.
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Born: April 13, 1944, Philadelphia.
Home: Lafayette Hill.