I'm thinking of doing a story on the guy who designed Pennsylvania's voter registration form. It's clearly the work of a "lowest qualified bidder," and it has all the attendant charms. For example, the "Municipality where you live" box is about an inch long. Even if you abbreviated, you'd have trouble fitting your municipality's name. W. Fallowfield Twshp? E. Brandywine Twshp? S. Coatesville Borough? Impossible.

Why do I bring this up?

Because a whole bunch of Chesco Republicans and Independents have just switched to Democrat to vote in the upcoming Barack/Hillary primary. I think those poorly-designed forms are going to keep some Rs and Is from switching back.

Sure, the die-hard, vote-in-every-primary-even-though-they're-never-contested Republicans will return to their party. But the people who only vote in presidential elections? I doubt they're thinking, "Ah! As soon as this primary's over, I better make sure to fill out another one of those dreadful forms."

The Barack/Hillary battle could hurt the national Democratic Party, but it could also permanently increase the local party's numbers. Next to Dinniman's state senate victory, Super Indecisive Tuesday might turn out to be the best thing that's happened to the Chesco Democrats.

I called Senator Andy Dinniman (D-19th) yesterday and asked him, "Now that the Democratic presidential contenders are coming to Pennsylvania, are you ready to make an endorsement?"

He laughed and said, "You're giving me this wonderful opportunity to announce my endorsement?"

"Well... yes," I said.

He told me he's not endorsing.

"Someone has to stand up and make sure everyone keeps their eyes on the bigger prize in November," he said. "Someone has to be around to keep everybody cool so that we'll be together after the primary."

He's not the only big name Democrat around here who's not endorsing. You can read more about local endorsements in the article I wrote yesterday about the campaign preparations the Democratic presidential contenders are making in Chester County.

So, should our local politicians be making endorsements, or should they stand back?