With State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo not seeking reelection, his allies have been lining up behind the candidacy of Center City lawyer Larry Farnese in the Democratic primary.

And for the campaigns of Farnese’s opponents – union leader John J. Dougherty and activist Anne Dicker – that is enough to suggest Fumo is seeking to still exert influence through a surrogate.

Fumo has not publicly indicated any preference in the race for the high-profile First District, but it is no secret that the animosities between him and Dougherty run deep and that Dicker has been a staunch critic.

It also is well known that Fumo and Farnese’s families are connected. For example, Farnese’s grandfather, Andrew, became school board president in 1995 with Fumo’s backing.