] "Republican
operatives working to re-elect President Bush" in battleground
Pennsylvania "submitted last-minute requests in Philadelphia on Friday
to relocate 63 polling places...Of the 63 requests for changes, 53 are in
political divisions where the population of white voters is less than
10 percent." All 63 are "in political divisions where Democrats hold an
overwhelming advantage among registered voters." The city denied the
requests, saying they were filed too late to be eligible for a hearing
and appeared to be "discriminatory." Challenged on the transparent
attempt to make it more difficult for 37,000 -- mostly minority --
Philadelphians to vote, Republican Alderman Matt Robb pleaded
discomfort with African-Americans. Robb said he allowed his name to be
used on the request "because those polling places are in neighborhoods
he doesn't wish to visit." [here] 'It's predominantly, 100 percent black,' he said. 'I'm just not going in there to get a knife in my back.'" [more ]