PA Republicans gather this weekend for state committee, and PoliticsPA has your run down of prospective GOP judicial candidates (including endorsement predictions). PA Treasurer Rob McCord is stepping in the fill the void left to Democrats by Ed Rendell. Rick Santorum is in a high-profile back-and-forth with Sarah Palin, as conservative PA politicos descend on DC for CPAC. Mayor Nutter is looking slightly safer than he was Monday. Allegheny Republicans now have two likely candidates for County Exec.

And as always, check out this week’s Ups and Downs.

Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz.

PoliticsPA Reports

McCord Seeks Pa Dems Mantle of Leadership (With Video)
There’s no doubt that Ed Rendell has left a leadership vacuum among Pennsylvania Democrats. Now, it looks like Treasurer Rob McCord is hoping to fill the void.

Rundown of the GOP Judicial Races & Endorsement Predictions
All of PoliticsPA’s GOP committee sources report that Vic Stabile has the endorsement for Superior Court all but sewn up. While both Commonwealth Court candidates have their virtues, the general sense is that Anne Covey brings more political advantages to the ticket as a woman from southeast PA.

State Sen. Argall Looks For Savings in Prison Reform
There are no sacred fiscal cows for State Senator Dave Argall. In the interest of trimming the state’s bloated prison budget, Argall recently proposed a plan to release on parole thousand of non-violent offenders.

Commentary: Voucher Proposal Raises Many Questions
State Senator Daylin Leach (D-17) says school choice measures like SB1 create a new entitlement program in the midst of an unprecedented budget crisis, and risk subsidizing a few children to go to private school at the expense of public schools.

Poll: Mixed Results for Nutter, Philadelphia
A Franklin and Marshall poll out this morning has Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter leading a hypothetical primary field, but 53% of voters believe it’s time for a change in the mayor’s office.

Headlines
Pennsylvania Ave.: Sen. Toomey tells CPAC not to apologize for being conservative
Fox Philadelphia: Group Slams U.S. Reps. Sleeping in Their Offices including Rep. Meehan
State House Sound Bites: Admiral Mullen’s Pa. Visit
Fox Philadelphia: Sweeping Corruption Probe Hits Philly
State House Sound Bites: A Change of Venue for Gov. Corbett
Rep. Tim Murphy Statement on Egypt Political Crisis (h/t McKeesport Daily News)
Pennsylvania Ave.: Sen. Casey Offers Help to Allentown in Wake of Explosion
PhillyNow: Former Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Visits Philadelphia
ABC Pittsburgh: 2 Jurors Dismissed in Orie Trial
Patriot-News: Gov. Corbett Maintains His Plan to Eliminate AdultBasic
Patriot-News: Pennsylvania GOP To Meet This Weekend
Inquirer: Philly Schools Brace for Cuts
Newsworks: Mayor Nutter says economy is ‘starting to turn a corner’
PhillyClout: Ex-Offenders Protest Nutter Speech to Chamber
Early Returns: A Nice Start for Weaver in Allegheny County Executive Race
Times-News: Erie-area State Senators to Hold Hearing on Wind Energy
Heard in City Hall: DROP Costs Overstated?
Citizens’ Voice: Shakedowns and coverups (Luzerne Corruption)
Citizens’ Voice: Court will investigate employees’ ties to ex-judges (Luzerne Corruption)
Times Leader: Judge shuts down another line of Defense questions (Luzerne Corruption)
Times Leader: Powell: ex-jurists demanded cash (Luzerne Corruption)
Times Leader: FBI Agent: Ciavarella ‘made’ surveillance van (Luzerne Corruption)
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County employee get $175k under settlement
Citizens’ Voice: Gas company bails after depressing exploratory results
Post-Gazette: First Republican enters county executive race
Post-Gazette: Corbett draws a crowd at outdoors show
Standard Speaker: Powell testifies judge’s demands for kickbacks drove him out of country
Standard Speaker: Court will probe employees’ ties to ex-judges’ payoffs
Patriot-News: Rally to call for Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson to quit
Huffington Post: Sarah Palin Responds to Rick Santorum’s ‘Neanderthal’ Comment (h/t Early Returns)
The Hill: Santorum: I’ve Watched Every Episode of Palin’s Reality Show (h/t Early Returns)
Politico: Rick says he and Sarah are just fine now
AP: Santorum says US ‘belongs to God’
The Fix: Reviews Santorum’s speech

Opinions
Inquirer: One man race?
Post-Gazette: School Dollars: Pa. Can’t Afford A Funding Hole Next Year
Times-Tribune: Raise Stakes for Boaters
Times Leader Editorial: How to make it, the Mericle way (Luzerne Corruption)
The Examiner: Conservatism is back — and this time it’s serious
Patriot Editorial: Stop playing politics with health care