Wolf urges Democrats: Stay strong in your values
Gov. Wolf - one of Democrats' few bright spots last Election Day - urged House Democrats to remain confident in their values Wednesday as they gathered in Philadelphia for days of meetings aimed at building a strategy that better connects with voters.
"I acknowledged that we Democrats and members of Congress are probably doing a lot of soul-searching, given what happened in November," Wolf said in an interview after his address to House Democrats meeting at the Society Hill Sheraton. "What we believe makes sense. I think we have to have confidence in that."
He spoke as the lawmakers gathered for three days of closed-door meetings that will include speeches Thursday from President Obama and Friday from Vice President Biden.
The strategy session comes months after a drubbing at the polls that left Republicans in control of the Senate and with an even larger House majority, and as both parties turn their eyes to 2016 races.
Rep. Robert Brady, chairman of the city's Democratic Party, said the tour focused on "technical stuff" such as security and logistics. Wasserman Schultz "loved it," Brady said, but gave no indication of which city is in the lead.
Other finalists are also getting another look: Wasserman Schultz visited Columbus, Ohio, on Monday and is scheduled to see New York City on Friday.
Wherever the convention is held, Wolf said, the party needs to show confidence in a message based on "fairness," despite its recent losses.
"You can tell when somebody's faking it, and you can tell when they mean it," Wolf said. "My message is, we need to mean it, because it works."
He opened the event with Mayor Nutter and national AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.