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Published on: 4/19/2008
Last Visited: 4/19/2008
Aronchick and Lavelle have spent the past few weeks, if not months, gearing up for Tuesday's Democratic primary race, but they find themselves on opposite sides of the political table.
Aronchick serves as the Pennsylvania co-chairman of Sen.
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Aronchick has been doing similar work for Clinton's camp, coordinating the more than 200 attorneys who volunteered for legal-protection activities on Tuesday.
Pennsylvania lawyers Abbe F. Fletman, Steven J. Engelmyer, Cheryl A. Krause, Murray Ufberg, Lazar M. Palnick and James J. Eisenhower III are all working with Aronchick to man the legal desks around the state.
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Aronchick said he anticipates a smooth election given the amount of enthusiasm that surrounds the primary.He said Democrats respect each other and each other's right to vote free of intimidation and harassment.But with a possible record turnout of up to 2.8 million voters, Aronchick said things could happen in even the best of circumstances.His camp wants to make sure there is sufficient machine capacity so voters don't have to wait in long lines.
Other possible snags might be polling places opening late, machines breaking down or electioneering too close to a poll.
While he doesn't expect it to, Aronchick said that if any of that happens, the lawyers on both sides would be prepared to deal with the problems quickly and in a civil manner.
Lavelle said there is a tremendous amount of support from local lawyers, many of whom have never volunteered for election work before.
"On both sides of this we are focused on getting all of the voters out there and allowing them to vote what their preferences are," Lavelle said.Both Lavelle and Aronchick said they would come together after the primary to support the winner of the Democratic nomination.
Aronchick said the most interesting part of the primary day is that pretty much all of the lawyers working with Clinton and Obama know one another and have worked together in the past on general elections.
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Aronchick said he's ready to be the student instead of the teacher and learn how his former election colleagues set up their own systems.He said it would be particularly fun to watch Lavelle given the two have worked together on so many campaigns and election law issues.He said they know each other's thinking."I'm glad to see that he's gotten this authority and the title he has long deserved," Aronchick said."It's my turn now to learn from him and see what innovations and improvements he's going to do on election day, so that when we all come together for the general election, we're even better."
According to Aronchick, Pennsylvania is a model for the country when it comes to election issues.He is on a national lawyers steering committee for the Democratic Party and said he gets asked all the time how Pennsylvania handles its voting day issues.
The state uses cutting-edge ideas that are supported by a sense of respect for election lawyers and a willingness of candidates to make lawyers a central part of their campaigns, Aronchick said.
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That results in quick solutions when problems arise on voting day, Aronchick said.
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