Pebbles Bam Bam it will be recalled predicted / championed Rene Gilenger running for State Senate against Vince Fumo, which many folks (including myself) pooh-poohed saying "But she's running Larry Farnese's campaign, pshaw". Well it appears she was half right. Rene Gilenger is running Larry Farnese for State Senate against Vince Fumo.

And also for State Rep against Babette Josephs at the same time - which much to my surprise is perfectly legal.

Under state law, Farnese can keep his options open for a long time - even to appear on primary ballots as a candidate for both House and Senate.

"State law does not prohibit multiple candidacies for public office," said Cathy Ennis, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of State. "They just can't hold more than one elected state office."

Well you learn something new every day.

From Heard in the Hall:

Farnese, a Center City lawyer with Fumo ties as well as some to U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, decided this week to start circulating petitions for the Senate seat – in addition to those he is circulating for his re-match against state House Rep. Babette Josephs.

The move has fueled talk that it’s not because he wants to challenge Fumo, but because he knows something others don’t: Either Fumo won’t be in the race til the end, or maybe Fumo won’t get in it to begin with and Farnese will be his stand-in.

Farnese campaign manager Renee Gilinger says it’s all wishful thinking.

The decision was the campaign’s own. “He is not beholden to anybody,” Gilenger said. “We saw an opportunity for a candidate like Larry to do well in that seat, and we want to keep our options open. If you don’t have signatures, you don’t have options.”

I will not comment on the Fumo stand-in theory as I am sure others will have more to say on that particular theory but I will note that the same Heard in the Hall: has Councilman Jim Kenney going on the record as saying he turned down an offer to step into State Senator Vince Fumo's shoes should his term as State Senator abruptly come to an end.

Meanwhile, the one guy who admits that Fumo asked him to run in his place – should Fumo win but not be able to fulfill his term – won’t do it.
“There was a time in my life I would have been interested,” City Councilman Jim Kenney said. But not now, not now that he is 5th in seniority among his 16 colleagues. Not since his former Council buddy, Michael Nutter, is now mayor.
Said Kenney of his answer to Fumo: “He accepted my decision.”

Interesting developments. What do folks make of it?