In a stunning reversal of fortune, sources inside the Rhoades camp tell the Clarke Report that daughter of the late State Sen. Jim Rhoades, Ali, has decided not to run for her father’s seat after all, giving the green light to her husband Chris Hobbs. Hobbs, a Pottsville attorney and the son of former State Sen. Fred Hobbs, reportedly met with Rhoades’ staffers Champ Holman, Mary Beth Dougherty, and Ron Rader over lunch today to finalize his candidacy. Hobbs will officially throw his hat into the ring later this week.
In a party not known for surprises, this one is a doozy. Following Rhoades’ death, conventional wisdom said that Hobbs would be the likely successor. However, Ali shocked many when she reportedly said that she wanted to run instead. She even went as far as getting the blessing of state GOP officials, who preferred her over Hobbs due to having the advantage of name recognition of two powerful political families and no skeletons in her closet. Apparently though, Ali reconsidered when the feedback she received was not overwhelmingly supportive, in fact some was downright critical, after her name slowly leaked to the public last week. That, along with the pressure of having an infant child at home seems to have been the basis of this decision.
6 Comments
November 12, 2008 at 12:08 am
[...] UPDATE: In 29th District Senate Seat Race: Ali Out, Chris In… [...]
November 12, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Champ Holman was seen with Dave Argall a couple days ago in Tamaqua. I wonder if Chris Hobbs knows he’s gonna get his throat cut by the best in the business? Holman and Rader are probably hedging their bets…. meeting with Argall to let him know they are throwing it to him and should he get the nod they are covered and will have jobs. Hobbs just thinks they are behind him all the way and if he wins, they still have jobs. Either way they win.
November 12, 2008 at 3:02 pm
What skeletons does C-Hobbs have? or were you just referring to the idea that Rhoades-Hobbs does not have any record, and thus there is no way she’d have skeletons?
November 12, 2008 at 3:35 pm
yes
November 12, 2008 at 5:40 pm
You got that right miller. I’d never thought I’d actually be sorry for Hobbs but I hate to see anyone to get stabbed like that.
November 13, 2008 at 10:32 am
Possibly they’re bargaining. Give Argie the Senate seat and we’ll back you for the House seat? Maybe they’re not bailing on Hobbs but cornering the market.