Campaign endorsements can be a funny game.  In ward 14, the race for endorsements seems to be the race within the race.  While candidates are quick to state that most voters do not pay attention to endorsements, they usually only state that when questioned on why they did not obtain a particular endorsement.  And what of the endorsers - what makes an individual or groups opinion worthy of consideration?  Who to listen to?  Is anyone listening?

I had an opportunity to talk with Cummins about the voter registration and Democratic party allegations being leveled by the Nagin campaign and he convinced me that just like the "Loner" charges, they are unfounded.  He voted by absentee ballot while serving in the Peace Corps and had registered right after high school.  In Cleveland, he voted with provisional ballots after having moved back.  Furthermore, Cummins is the candidate endorsed by the Cuyahoga County Democrats.  I found that hard to believe given Nagin's stance that he had worked for decad

In Ward 14, both candidates who emerged from the primaries seem to have strong 2nd party affiliations.  While both are registered Democrats, has their 2nd party affiliations helped them get out of the mire of the current corruption sweeping local democratic politics?  Will their affiliations help or hurt?  Does it make them more "independent?"  Are 3rd parties ever again going to be able to gain more traction in the political system?  Anyone else find this interesting?