The Constitutional Party of Pennsylvania opened its Convention on Friday, March 13, 1998 in Mechanicsburg, PA at the Holiday Inn with a keynote address by Paul Weyrich. Mr. Weyrich is the founder of the American Legislative Council, President of the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, and President of the Krieble Institute which is devoted to training democracy movements in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Empire. In 1996 Mr. Weyrich was the recipient of the Crystal Ball Award given by the Washington Post for correctly predicting the outcomes of the elections that year.

Mr. Weyrich stated his belief that his extensive experience within the Soviet Union led him to the conclusion that it collapsed from within because it's own people ceased to believe in their system. "We have a great crisis in our own country because we have politicians who believe in nothing...everything is negotiable, nothing is sacred to them. I am glad to support Peg Luksik because she is very different. She (Peg) distinguishes herself because she has fundamental beliefs...which translate into her way of life, and she can be elected."

"It's time to elect a candidate for major political office who is willing to say, 'To hell with the polls, we're going to do what is right.' Peg Luksik is diminutive in size, but stout in determination." Mr. Weyrich warned the audience not to be misled by simplistic slogans such as, "Don't waste your vote on someone who can't win." He suggested that slogans like this are sometimes concocted by Democrat and Republican leadership when they sense a real threat to their power base.

"One thing I know about Peg Luksik. She is absolutely fearless and she cares about what ordinary people think. She is one extraordinary candidate...one extraordinary lady, and the success of this campaign depends on ordinary people doing the right thing. You have a candidate who believes in something," he concluded, "and when she wins, the effect will be felt all across America."