Politics PA

pa2010: Schneller to stay on ballot

It’s officially a three-man contest in the 7th Congressional District.

Politically Uncorrected: Obama’s Best Bad Option

Politically Uncorrected
By G. Terry Madonna & Michael L. Young

OBAMA’S BEST BAD OPTION

One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a comedy, focused on magic and distinguishing fantasy from reality. Right about now, President Obama is probably having his own midsummer night’s dream, anxious to get back his old [...]

PhillyClout: Sestak admits error on earmark request

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak reached out to PhillyClout this afternoon to clarify his explanation from earlier this week about a $350,000 federal spending “earmark” that has been seized on by his Republican opponent in the race for the U.S. Senate, former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey.

The Washington Post’s Broder sizes up the Pa. gov race

Because the history of this office is weighty in terms of national politics, with figures including Rendell, Tom Ridge, Dick Thornburgh, Milton Shapp, Bob Casey and Bill Scranton all playing prominent roles in their parties, the outcome may be more important than the highly publicized fight for Arlen Specter’s Senate seat.

Pennsylvania Avenue: Kaine, Rendell to make big speech in Philly next week

A DNC official said Kaine will “make the sharpest contrast that he has made to date on the direction the country would go if Republicans had their way.”

PoliticsPA’s Morning Buzz: 9/2 Edition

The DSCC released a new ad attacking Pat Toomey, Dan Onorato gave us some more details about a severance tax and DNC Chair Tim Kaine is giving a major speech in Philly next week. Good morning, it’s a busy Thursday here in the Buzz.

PolitiFact: Sestak’s new ad ‘mostly true’

We think that Sestak’s use of the clip was fair politics, because the clip accurately reflects what Toomey said on the show. And Toomey’s book does provide evidence that he’d love to see zero corporate taxation implemented, which justifies the ad’s use of the word “thinks.”

PoliticsPA: Onorato touts severance tax, calls Corbett gas industry shill

Corbett’s campaign fired back that Onorato is simply supporting the kind of tax-and-spend policies favored by Governor Rendell.

pa2010: Lentz donated to Santorum in 2000

Lentz, a two-term state Representative, was briefly a Santorum supporter himself—at least financially.

PoliticsPA: DNC Chair Kaine to raise money for Trivedi

Also attending will be U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), the DNC’s vice-chair, who is helping lead Trivedi’s meeting with the South Asian American Leadership Council, which is part of the fundraiser on Thursday.

PoliticsPA: Onorato believes he’s down 5 or 6 points

“It’s close,” he said during a press conference in the Capitol to promote his plan to levy a severance tax on the natural gas industry. “It’s definitely within single-digits.”

PoliticsPA: New DSCC ad hits Toomey on derivatives, Social Security (VIDEO)

A new ad that begins airing Wednesday from the DSCC portrays Pat Toomey as a champion of Wall Street, not the middle class, and raises the specter of what Democrat’s say is the Republican Senate nominee’s plan to privatize Wall Street.

PoliticsPA’s Morning Buzz: 9/1 Edition

A pair of new ads are up on TV (courtesy of Tom Corbett and Joe Sestak), critics lash out at the AG for using “Bonusgate” accomplishments as campaign talking points, and the state is paying way, way too much in unemployment insurance. This is Wednesday’s Buzz.

PoliticsPA: Rasmussen says Toomey up 6; another survey says he’s up 10

When “leaners,” those who initially say they are undecided but are asked a follow-up question, are included in the survey, Toomey’s lead stays at 6 points — 48 percent to 42 percent. Independent voters favor Toomey by 15 points, 42 percent to 27 percent, while just 68 percent of Democrats support Sestak, according to the poll. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans support Toomey, it says.

Kelly becomes an NRCC ‘Young Gun’

The NRCC has moved congressional candidate Mike Kelly, running against incumbent Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper, into its “Young Gun” program, which is designed to identify the GOP’s top pick-up opportunities across the country, The Hotline reports.

UPDATED: Corbett’s first ad mocks no-tax-pledge doubters (VIDEO)

The ad will run statewide on broadcast and cable, according to Corbett Campaign Manager Brian Nutt, who wouldn’t disclose when it will begin running.

PoliticsPA: Sestak ad hits Toomey on corporate taxes (VIDEO)

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Joe Sestak’s first TV ad criticizes GOP opponent Pat Toomey as “Wall Street’s Congressman,” saying the former Lehigh Valley congressman wants to ease the burden on large corporations while the middle class struggles.

PoliticsPA’s Morning Buzz: 8/31 Edition

Sestak’s on air (though not everywhere), Gleason gives his thoughts about 2010 and a new Gallup poll should send a chill up the spines of Democrats everywhere. This is Tuesday’s Buzz.

PoliticsPA: Marino asks protesters if they have a job, are on welfare (VIDEO)

“What do you do for a job?” he thrice asked a group of people not pictured in the video, who appeared to be yelling back at him.

Bumsted: Onorato’s letter to Rendell

The Trib has obtained an exclusive copy of a letter from Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, the Democrats’ nominee for governor, to fellow Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell, who is entering the final four months of his second term. Onorato faces Republican Attorney General Tom Corbett in the November general election.

UPDATED: Toomey pounces on earmark controversy; Sestak repsonds

Pat Toomey’s campaign on Monday pounced on a Morning Call story that revealed Democratic Senate nominee Joe Sestak might have delivered a $350,000 earmark to a for-profit company, which is against the rules.

PoliticsPA’s Morning Buzz: 8/30 Edition

Sen. Casey is in the Philly burbs to help campaign for congressional candidates, former State Rep. Mike Veon is seeing things from a different perspective, and people are still talking about Sarah Palin’s speech on Friday night. Happy Monday morning, and let’s hope this does not happen to your kids if they start school today.

Capitol Ideas: Palin urges Hershey crowd to ‘fight for what is right’

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin urged a crowd of about 1,100 here Friday to stand up for family, faith and country, telling them, “You don’t need an office. You don’t need a title to fight for what is right.

PoliticsPA: In first ad, Kanjorski calls Hazleton ‘worst run in the state’ (VIDEO)

Paul Kanjorski began his general election TV ad campaign Friday evening with an intense criticism of GOP opponent Lou Barletta’s tenure as mayor of Hazleton, likely setting a tone for what will be a bitterly fought contest between the two old rivals in the 10th Congressional District.

PoliticsPA: For Corbett on Onorato, it’s all about taxes, taxes, taxes

But the GOP gubernatorial nominee struggled to name more than one instance his Democratic opponent has called for a tax increase.

PoliticsPA: Club for Growth goes to bat for old boss Toomey (VIDEO)

The 30-second spot highlights Sestak’s support of a $300 billion mortgage bailout and a so-called “cap-and-trade” bill. It also criticizes Sestak for supporting for a stimulus bill larger than the $787 billion one approved by Congress in early 2009.

PoliticsPA: New poll signals possible primary problem for Nutter

Will Michael Nutter have a tough time in next year’s Democratic mayoral primary?