Carl Romanelli, the Green Party's challenger to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum this November, doesn't have a large entourage. He can't afford one with a campaign war chest currently containing less than $5,000. But the former family courts officer from Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania said yesterday during a trip through Philadelphia for a peace rally that his grassroots campaign is growing in strength. "You start by reaching one heart and one mind at a time," Romanelli, 47, said. "As Pennsylvania gets used to seeing us, they'll see there are other capable options [besides Republicans and Democrats]." Romanelli said the Green Party has growing appeal with both young voters and senior citizens because it addressess the issues that most affect those age groups, including health insurance, education and federal spending. "We need to bring the budget sensibilities that is currently lacking [at the federal level]," he said during an interview at Cosi Cafe on Chestnut Street. "It's been reported that we won't be able to pay the interest on the national debt by 2035." Romanelli is relatively new to politics. As a former registered Democrat, he said he became involved in the Green Party in 2000 after realizing that "the right wing would steal the [presidential] election and the Democrats would let them get away with it." Based out of Wilkes-Barre, Romanelli said he would be flattered to raise $1 million for his campaign, which would allow him to open campaign offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

Metro.us Philadelphia, Pa Monday March, 20th 2006