Good morning politicos. 6 days to go, and here’s the Buzz. Races continue to heat up (and boil over), the ad wars wage on, and outside groups are jumping in. Plus, Rick Santorum endorses.

Santorum Endorses: A week after effectively ending his bid for President, Rick Santorum is making an endorsement: Williams Sieg for PA House, for Pa. House in district 92 (based in Dillsburg, comprising southern Cumberland and northern York counties).

Planned Parenthood Drops $100K in PA Special (Watch Video): National Democrats have a new laboratory for their “war on women” campaign messaging and it’s close to home. Planned Parenthood announced Wednesday that it will spend $100,000 against Ryan Mackenzie, the Republican running in a special election for state House in the Lehigh Valley.

Corbett Endorses Romney: Governor Tom Corbett made his endorsement of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney official on Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement released by Romney’s presidential campaign.

Romney Serves Standard Stump Speech at Lancaster GOP Dinner: Mitt Romney emphasized patriotism in his keynote remarks to the Lancaster County GOP dinner, remarks that stayed fairly consistent with his standard stump speech.

Environmentalists to Spend $230K Against Holden: Tim Holden has another headache coming his way. The League of Conservation Voters is preparing a $230,000 ad buy against the embattled Congressman. The incumbent is already being outspent by opponent Matt Cartwright and Super PACs.

“Whatever It Takes” To Beat Holden: The Super PAC Campaign for Primary Accountability will spend “whatever it takes,” to defeat Rep. Tim Holden, a spokesman for the group told PoliticsPA today.

Kane Highlights Clinton Support in New Ad: It was an event built for a campaign commercial. Kathleen Kane will enter the final week of the Attorney General race with a positive spot that highlights her endorsement from former President Bill Clinton.

AG Ed Board Endorsements: As Kathleen Kane and Patrick Murphy go head-to-head in their race for the Attorney General position, several editorial boards have announced their endorsements.

Bowzer From Sha Na Na to Campaign for Critz: Two words: game change. Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, of the Doo Wop group Sha Na Na and variety series of the same name, will be campaigning for Rep. Mark Critz in the 12th Congressional district this week.

Conservative Backlash at Welch Ad: Some conservative leaders are upset about Senate hopeful Steve Welch’s TV ad boasting his endorsement from the PAGOP. They want market research proving that grassroots Republicans overwhelmingly support him.

Post-Gazette Backs Welch: Decrying the anti-compromise mindset in GOP primaries, the PG backed Welch: “As his party’s leadership has wisely recognized, he is the one with the cross-over appeal to give Bob Casey the best challenge in the fall.”

On Senate Floor, Sen. Toomey Blasts Buffett Rule: Pat Toomey took the Senate floor Monday to oppose President Obama’s “Buffett Rule,” calling the proposal a “gimmick” and a “political stunt” that would eventually result in a higher tax rate among the middle class.

Romney Speaks at Philadelphia Tea Party Gathering: Speaking to a gathering of the Independence Hall Tea Party at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute on Monday night, Mitt Romney set the stage for his charge to the White House, blasting President Obama for failed economic policies and driving home a vision of a consumer-driven free economy for America.

Legislative Election Updates

SD-23, HD-83: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) and Harry Rogers (running against Rep. Rick Mirabito) spoke to the Lycoming GOP Women’s luncheon Monday.

SD-37: In a feature on the race, the Post-Gazette points out the institutional advantages that state Rep. Mark Mustio has in the race and the uphill battle that Raja and Means face. Early Returns has more on how Mustio is raising the vast majority of his money from GOP state Senators ($211K of $295K in Q1). Mustio also rolled out 53 local GOP endorsements, including Allegheny County Councilwoman Jan Rea, Upper St. Clair Supervisor Mark Christie, Pleasant Hills Councilman Dan Soltesz and more.

SD-49: Democrat Sean Wiley had an interview with JET24 Your Erie. Last night the Nouva Aurora Club hosted an ‘Candidate Night’ dedicated to the Democrats competing for the seat of retiring Senator, Jane Earll (R-Erie), and the four Dems will have a debate on Thursday.

HD-54: Patrick Leyland will orchestrate a write-in campaign for the Democratic nomination since no Democrat is running against freshman state Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland).

HD-92: A week after effectively ending his bid for President, Rick Santorum is making an endorsement: Williams Sieg for PA House, for Pa. House in district 92 (based in Dillsburg, comprising southern Cumberland and northern York counties).

HD-102: The Patriot News checks in with the two Republicans seeking to unseat Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon): Joe Eisenhauer and Tom Hawk.

HD-134: National Democrats have a new laboratory for their “war on women” campaign messaging and it’s close to home. Planned Parenthood announced Wednesday that it will spend $100,000 against Ryan Mackenzie, the Republican running in a special election for state House in the Lehigh Valley. It even got a mention in Politico.

HD-182: State Rep. Babette Josephs is up with an ad highlighting all the work she has done in her Center City Philadelphia district since coming to the legislature.

National:
KDKA: Romney hosts roundtable in Bethel Park
AP: Santorum thanks supporters, doesn’t hint at future
Politico: Lessons from the House cash dash
Politico: DCCC to spend $32M on TV ads against 26 GOP incumbents
Politico: Obama launches attack on oil speculators
Politico: Exclusive: Big green groups to endorse Obama
Washington Post: The Fix: Why the Presidential race will be closer than you think
Washington Post: Why does Mitt Romney seem so stiff? He’s trying too hard, friends say
Washington Post: Romney tries to ‘bracket’ Obama, plans ‘prebuttal’ speech in Charlotte
National Journal: Hotline sort: Could Romney outraise Obama?
National Journal: Liberal group still using Bush in attack ad
National Journal: Obama’s blue-collar messaging
National Journal: Familiar divisions give Obama narrow edge
National Journal: Romney begins courting moderates, independents
The Caucus: Expressions of outrage set the tone for Obama-Romney matchup
The Caucus: Boehner and McConnell endorse Romney
The Caucus: House campaign committees both claim upperhand in fundraising battle
The Caucus: Santorum to his supporters: ‘stay tuned’
Five Thirty Eight: The general election ground game: a first look
USA Today: Obama hits campaign trail with ‘Buffet Rule’
Pennsylvania Avenue: Romney rallies Philly Tea Party
Capitol Ideas: Tuesday Morning Coffee: Santorum takes a pass on endorsing Romney

Statewide:
Capitol Ideas: New league of conservatism voters ad targets Tim Holden
State House Sound Bites: Meet the candidate: Rob McCord
State House Sound Bites: Meet the candidate: Patrick Murphy
State House Sound Bites: Romney courts conservatives in Lancaster County
State House Sound Bites: Dems call on Romney to release tax returns
StateImpactPA: What happened to Obama’s windfall profits tax on energy companies?
Capitolwire: Pennsylvania Democratic Party: Gov. Corbett backs Romney; Will Gov. Corbett’s policies become a liability?
Capitolwire: Romney for President: Mitt Romney announces support of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett
Capitolwire: Pennsylvania Democratic Party: Chairman Burn welcomes Mitt Romney to Pittsburgh, asks Romney to release tax returns
Capitolwire: Pennsylvania Democratic Party: DA Seth Williams, Controller Alan Butkovitz call on Mitt Romney to level with voters and release additional years of his tax returns
AP: Welch gets Senate nod from 2 major Pa. newspapers
Morning Call: Analysis: Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race emerging from Presidential shadows
The Hill: Another hit against Rep. Holden in tough Pennsylvania primary
Roll Call: Pennsylvania: LCV drops $230K to defeat Tim Holden
Roll Call: Redistricting makes blue dog Holden an underdog

Philadelphia:
Philadelphia Inquirer: Romney speaks to Independence Hall Tea Party at “tax day summit”
Philadelphia Weekly: Santorum says not backing down from “conservative ideals”
Philadelphia Weekly: Daily Grinder: Activists barred from Romney event
Inquirer: Philadelphia Election Commissioners Probe Excessive Vote Counts

SEPA:
Daily Local News: In 6th District, a Gerlach-Trivedi rematch

Pittsburgh:
Tribune Review: Poll: Altmire Leads Critz 43-39
Post-Gazette: In Bethel Park, Romney says presidential election will come down to ‘jobs and kids’
Post-Gazette: First lady Michelle Obama arrives in Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Unveiled reapportionment plan causes concern for candidates
Post-Gazette: Michelle Obama visits military families today
Post-Gazette: Philadelphia tea party welcomes Romney
WPXI: First Lady to visit 911th Air Wing set to close
Early Returns: Same war, different battlefield
Early Returns: Corbett: “Clearly he’s going to be the nominee”
Early Returns: Romney talks middle class in Bethel Park
Early Returns: Corbett endorses Romney in Hbg
Early Returns: Pa Dem chair hits Romney tax returns
Tribune Review: Michelle Obama speaks with military members, heads for fundraisers
Tribune Review: Romney tackles taxes in chat with couples in Bethel Park
Tribune Review: First lady’s visit to base viewed as positive

Southwest:
Observer-Reporter: Running on his record

NEPA:
Times Leader: Cartwright, Holden debate cancelled
Times Tribune: Holden piles up endorsements in 17th Congressional District race
Daily Item: Election 2012: Masser says district is top concern

Lehigh Valley:
Express Times: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey pushes energy plan that touts natural gas and calls for government action against price-fixing, speculation
Morning Call: Longtime environmental group attacks Holden in ad
Morning Call: Toomey drafts his own budget proposal for the second year
WFMZ: Romney and Gingrich stump at Lancaster dinner

South Central:
Patriot News: PA-15 candidates Eaton and Daugherty test waters in the midstate

North by Northwest:
Your Erie: State Senate Candidate Profile: Sean Wiley
Sun Gazette: Candidates Yaw, Rogers address GOP women
Campaign ’12 Blog: Welch criticizes Smith in Erie over taxing issue
Erie Times-News: Congressional candidate Dumas to campaign Wednesday in Erie
Erie Times-News: State Senate candidates to debate Thursday

Opinions:
Post-Gazette: Endorses Steve Welch for Senate
Centre Daily Times: Letter to the Editor: Murphy has the right qualities for AG
Philadelphia Daily News: Our choice: Kane for attorney general
Pottstown Mercy: Corbett’s Senate candidate is an albatross around his neck
Daily Local: Media challenged to provide all the voting stats
Post-Gazette: Welch for the GOP: The endorsed Senate candidate is best of the bunch
Sun Gazette: Santorum exits, but conservative message gains staying power

Blogs:
Republic Report: Needing Last Minute Political Support, Rep. Tim Holden Introduces Bill To Allow Pollution Into Chesapeake Bay, Collects Big Ag Cash
2 Political Junkies: Meet & greet with Patrick Murphy
Pennsylvania Progressive: Cartwright collects endorsements, Holden ducks debate again
Pennsylvania Progressive: Planned parenthood targets Ryan Mckenzie
Keystone Politics: Which GOP Senate candidate benefits from Santorum’s exit
Keystone Politics: Patrick Leyland declares write-in campaign in 54th state house district
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Harhart has a write-in challenger, Matt Miles