Kathy Dahlkemper, the Democratic candidate for Erie County executive, has received five endorsements from current or former officeholders.

Kathy Dahlkemper/file photo

Millcreek Supervisor Brian McGrath, Erie County Council members Phil Fatica and Fiore Leone, former County Councilwoman Joy Greco and Jim McCall, a former Millcreek Democratic Party chairman, are all endorsing Dahlkemper.

She is running against incumbent Barry Grossman for the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary.

In an endorsement that the five signed, they addressed Millcreek Democrats in a letter. “Please join us in supporting Kathy Dahlkemper for county executive. Erie County is at a pivotal point in time. Kathy has the ideas and skills to lead Erie County in the challenging days ahead,” they wrote.

They said that a vote for Dahlkemper is a vote for the county’s future.

The Democratic winner will face the winner of the GOP primary - Don Tucci, Thomas Wesley McGahen or Tom Loftus.

They will square off in the Nov. 5 election.

– John Guerriero

Kathy Dahlkemper, a Democratic candidate  for Erie County Executive, will be scooping out ice cream and politics on Sunday.

Kathy Dahlkemper/File photo

She’s taking her mobile headquarters to Cherry Hill Drive-In Ice Cream shop, 8915 Route 6N,  Albion Borough, from 5 to 7 p.m.

She will serve ice cream to customers, and before that, campaign door-to-door in nearby neighborhoods.

“Places like Cherry Hill are what make Erie County unique,” Dahlkemper said in a statement. “They’re important to the fabric of the community, and it’s important to give them the support and encouragement they deserve so they know how appreciated they really are.”

Dahlkemper’s platform includes what the campaign calls openness and accessibility. As part of that platform, she is meeting with residents to hear their concerns and to talk about her priories of job creation and economic development, according to a news release.

Dahlkemper will square off against incumbent County Executive Barry Grossman, a fellow Democrat, in the May 21 primary.

– John Guerriero

Do Democrats need a contested primary for governor in 2014?

Political commentators Terry Madonna and Michael Young think it would be to the party’s advantage if it hopes to unseat incumbent Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican.

Political analyst Terry Madonna/ETN file photo

They argue in their latest “Politically Uncorrected” column that the Democrats have a “nobody problem,” meaning not enough people know what they call an “impressive” field of potential candidates statewide.

One way to generate name recognition, they say, is through “a good old-fashioned party primary, one that will give their candidates a chance  to offer their vision for Pennsylvania, while giving those voters a chance to size up the candidates.”

But they acknowledge a primary battle is not a popular view. “It’s widely believed that contested primaries usually waste limited campaign resources, gratuitously offer general election opponents juicy targets and turn off voters,” they wrote.

How many of the potential Democratic candidates do you know?

The analysts say they include former state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger; Philly businessman Tom Knox; state Treasurer Rob McCord; Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski; Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz; former Congressman Joe Sestak; state Sen. Mike Stack; and former Revenue Secretary and businessman  Tom Wolfe.

One name that won’t be on the list is former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper, of Erie, who has decided to run for Erie County executive this year.

– John Guerriero

It’s pre-election rally time in the Erie area.

Today at 2 p.m., Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Cole and former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper of Erie will urge volunteers to attend get-out-the-vote neighborhood canvasses this weekend and discuss the importance of voting Tuesday.

Democrats also will hold a GOTV rally for President Barack Obama and other Democrats on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Perry Square gazebo.

The Minority Political Caucus will hold a line dance party as part of a GOTV effort for Obama on Saturday, from 8 p.m. to midnight, at the Martin Luther King Center, 312 Chestnut St., in the gym. You’ll be asked for a $10 donation for that event, with refreshments provided.

Not to be outdone, the  Erie County Republican Party will hold a rally tonight at Waldameer Park’s Rainbow Gardens.

That “rally before the tally” for Gov. Mitt Romney and other GOP candidates on the ticket will be from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event will feature Congressmen Mike Kelly and Glenn Thompson, among other Republican candidates. That event, too, asks for a $10 donation, with food and beverages provided.

So are you ready for Tuesday?

– John Guerriero

Former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper of Erie will help to kick off a phone bank effort Saturday at the Barack Obama headquarters in Erie.

She will join volunteers in helping to make calls to voters as part of a volunteer recruitment and get out the vote effort. 

File photo of former Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper. GREG WOHLFORD/

The phones will be manned from noon to 5 p.m. at the headquarters, 1305 State St.

The campaign said it is looking for volunteers Saturday, too.

Contact Greg Waples, regional field director for the Obama campaign, at gwaples@ofapa.com or (814) 323-9273 with any questions.

– John Guerriero