DNC CELEBS: John Kasich’s Office Swears That Wasn’t Him in Philly on Monday
Ohio Governor John Kasich at a January 2016 event. Photo by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons.
We could go on and on all day about all the powerful Democrats who have been spotted roaming around Philadelphia — it’s the DNC, of course. But one reported sighting we weren’t expecting was former Donald Trump opponent John Kasich, aka the Governor of Ohio, aka the guy who didn’t show up for the Republican National Convention, which happened to be in his own state.
Now, Kasich’s office swears that he wasn’t in Philly on Monday. “It appears that you have bad sources,” claims his press secretary.
But Kasich — or perhaps his doppelgänger — was spotted at the bar of the Marriott on Market Street around 12:30 a.m. this morning while Tom Brokaw, WMMR DJ Pierre Robert, and a bunch of other familiarish faces sat nearby.
“I introduced myself and told him that I’m a fan even though I’m a Democrat,” says Fishtown filmmaker Jamie Moffett. “Honestly, considering his Republican opponents, he seemed to be the sharpest tool in the shed.”
Moffett says that other people were greeting Kasich as well.
If anyone has a photo of Kasich in Philly on Monday, drinks are on us.
First Bieber, Now Geraldo
Photo courtesy Fishtown Tavern
It wasn’t so long ago that we were telling you about a Justin Bieber bar sighting in Fishtown. (He played pool at Johnny Brenda’s, for those of you who don’t follow Justin Bieber news.)
And now the neighborhood has been graced by the enlightened presence of Geraldo Rivera, who held court with some friends. While he’s photographed with a beer, the tavern says that he was mostly there for caffeine.
“He had the hummus and a coffee,” says a source inside Fishtown Tavern. “He was broadcasting later in the night. Tried Kenzinger but didn’t really drink. He was very much working.”
So much for a good Geraldo Rivera scandal.
Kaine Checks Into … the Sonesta??!?!
You probably imagine that when a bigwig like Tim Kaine visits Philadelphia, he stays at The Rittenhouse. But Hillary’s choice for vice president of the United States appears to have checked into the Sonesta Hotel at 18th and Market this morning.
Bernie Sanders Eats at RTM
Thanks for stopping by, @BernieSanders! #LoveRTM #DNCPHL2016 #RTMdine pic.twitter.com/ZqPBVTynO4
— Reading Terminal Market (@RdgTerminalMkt) July 26, 2016
Debbie Does Del Frisco’s
After she got booed in Philly on Monday morning, Debbie Wasserman Schultz went to an event at Del Frisco’s, where her reception was said to be much more pleasant. Well, inside at least.
Two sources we spoke with say that the embattled Democrat tried to go all low-profile by using the back door on Sansom Street. But it didn’t work out too well. The sources say that she was immediately recognized by people on the street, and the boos reportedly ensued.
Sean Hannity at Wawa
Update: @seanhannity VERY confused by the ordering process in Wawa. #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/6mPoqbH462
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) July 26, 2016
We can most definitely confirm that Fox News blabber Sean Hannity was at the new Wawa on Broad Street. What we cannot confirm — but what is being circulated in a very viral way on the Internet — is that he was booed out of the shop.
We figure that if Sean Hannity is in Wawa and getting booed out of the shop, a whole lot of people are going to take their cell phones out and start recording. Alas, we haven’t seen a single video.
David Brooks: Man of the People
If you’re in town for the DNC, you should know by now that all the smart people are taking SEPTA’s Broad Street Line to get back and forth. Case in point: David Brooks. Philly Mag’s Sandy Smith found him on the train coming from the DNC on Monday.
“I wasn’t even aware he was on the train until two delegates recognized and came up to him,” recounts Smith. “I was standing right next to him, as it turned out. I mentioned to him that I knew he was UChicago ’83.”
“That was the school I had my eyes on until I got the big envelope from Harvard,” Smith told him.
“Guess you topped me there,” replied Brooks, ever gracious.
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog!
It’s really not a protest until Triumph the Insult Comic Dog shows up:
CORRECTION: This story has been updated from a previous version, which indicated that there were two separate sightings of Kasich in Philly on Monday.
