Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz. It looks like we’ve got another self-funder on our hands: this time it’s Dem AG hopeful Kathleen Kane with $2 million.

Scaringi, Freed, Maher Win Post-Forum GOP Straw Poll: The Bedford, Blair, Centre and Huntingdon County Republican committees co-hosted a forum for statewide candidates on Thursday night and, though PoliticsPA was unable to attend, we got a hold of the post-event straw poll. Here it is, along with some free association about the results.

Kane Announces $2 Million On Hand: Democratic Attorney General hopeful Kathleen Kane will head into the Democratic state committee’s endorsement meeting with a full head of steam. The former assistant Lackawanna County District Attorney announced an impressive $2 million cash on hand Thursday afternoon.

Former Rep. Houghton to Primary Sen. Dinniman: Pa. Senator Andy Dinniman has drawn a primary challenge from one-term Pa. Rep. Tom Houghton, the former lawmaker confirmed to PoliticsPA.

Senate Dems Challenge Redistricting Map: Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa said this morning that Senate Democrats plan to appeal a new map of state House and Senate districts that moved a Democratic Senate seat from western Pennsylvania to the Poconos.

Endorsement Mania! As candidates from both parties prepare for state committee endorsement meetings (Democrats on January 14, Republicans on the 28th), the endorsement roll outs have begun. Here’s a look at who’s supporting who this week, from the candidates’ press releases.

Pa. Legislative Election Updates

SD-19: Sen. Andy Dinniman draws a primary challenge from former Pa. Rep. Tom Houghton (see above).

SD-21: Rumors are swirling that Rep. Scott Hutchinson is the de facto successor to the retiring Sen. Mary Jo White.

HD-87: State Rep. Glenn Grell (R-Cumberland) Says He Will Run For Fifth Term In Office

HD-131: Former Easter Area SD union head will challenge Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh).

HD-132: Allentown City Councilman Mike Schlossberg, 28, has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the open seat there. Schlossberg is seeking the 132nd seat of outgoing Rep. Jennifer Mann, who announced last month that she will retire. Yesterday we mislabeled this as HD-22, the newly formed district in Allentown.

HD-182: Brian Sims’ campaign reports raising $72,000 during 2011. Sims, 33, is an attorney and LGBT activist challenging Rep. Babette Josephs. It’s more than Josephs, who has a strong pro-LGBT voting record and represents Philly’s largest gay community, raised in the 2010 cycle.

HD-199: Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) Makes His Re-Election Bid Official

National
BuzzFeed: Is Rick Santorum a union stooge? (Some great quotes from former AFL-CIO Pres Bill George, including this gem: “You want to talk about somebody who would open the door to the Pope because of his faithfulness to Catholicism, that’s Rick Santorum.”)
Washington Post: 22 Years Later, Santorum and Gingrich Cross Paths Once More
Washington Post: PA Teen Pleads Guilty To Multiple Charges, Later Elected To Council Seat
Capitolwire (Paywall): Tom Smith’s $4 Million Warchest Raises Ante For GOP U.S. House Race
The Daily: Santorum denies coordinated attacks on Romney (w/Gingrich)
Pennsylvania Ave.: What Will Pat Toomey’s Role Be In 2012 Politics?
Pennsylvania Ave.: Starring Arlen Specter
Pennsylvania Ave.: Santorum On The Rise In N.H.
Patriot-News: Rick Santorum Says He’s Against Welfare For ‘Blah’ People, Not ‘Black’ People: Report
Patriot-News: Santorum’s ‘in it to win it,’ supporters say
Early Returns: What’s next for Santorum?
Politico: Santorum: NH Will Puncture Mitt “Inevitability”
Politico: Pro-Santorum Super PAC Dodges Disclosure
Five Thirty Eight/NY Times: First Post-Iowa Polls Show Bounce for Santorum
Real Clear Politics: Santorum Takes His Case to New Hampshire
Real Clear Politics: Romney Leads, Santorum Second in National Poll
Real Clear Politics (The Boston Globe): Santorum getting fresh consideration
USA Today: Santorum, college students argue gay marriage
USA Today: Santorum on the upswing in GOP race
USA Today: Santorum refers to Romney as ‘that candidate’
Roll Call: Santorum’s Jonas Brothers Connection
Chris Freind: Santorum’s arrogance will be his downfall – again

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: State Democrats To Appeal New Maps For State Political Districts
Capitol Ideas: English Oddsmakers Say No To Surge For Santorum
Capitol Ideas: Attorney General Candidate Kathleen Kane Says She Has $2 Million Ready
StateImpactPA: Investment Bank Says Global Climate Accord Will Be Based On Presidential Election
StateImpactPA: Texas Company Announces Marcellus Pipeline Plan From Pennsylvania to Gulf
StateImpactPA: Fluids From Fracking Can Cause Earthquakes
StateImpactPA: How Much Natural Gas Is Under the United States?
Capitol Ideas: Democratic AG Candidate Kathleen Kane Says She Has $2 Million Cash On Hand
Patriot-News: Former Capitol Aide Alleges Malpractice By Lawyers In ‘Computergate’ Case
State House Sound Bites: Special Judge Finishes Review Of Cases Decided By “Kids For Cash” Ex-Judge
Patriot-News: Horse Slaughterhouses Unlikely To Open In Pa. Despite Recent Legislation, Experts Say
State House Sound Bites: Farm Show Exhibits Readied For Saturday
PA Independent: Auditor General Predicts Financial Doom for PA Turnpike
PA Independent: PA Dems Call for Higher Gas, Fees to Pay for Roads, Bridges