Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz. More fallout from Tuesday’s election this morning (the results are *almost* all in), some moves out of DC, and PoliticsPA presents our latest congressional vulnerability ranking.

If you missed Keegan on PCN’s Journalists Roundtable last night, watch it here. And don’t forget to check back later for the Ups & Downs.

Congressional Vulnerability Ratings: Post-Primary Edition: See how the primary results affected the law of the congressional land for both parties in 2012. Here’s PoliticsPA’s latest vulnerability rankings for the 18 seats in the Keystone State.

Obama and Romney Fight Over the Youth Vote: For President Obama, a major ingredient in his recipe for a successful presidential run in 2008 was the enthusiastic and unprecedented mass support of this country’s youth.  Four years later, with polls showing the younger generation feeling increasingly more jaded about the politics surrounding a poor economy,  the Obama campaign has used the threat of rising interest rates on student loans in the hopes of relighting the political fire of student voters.

Toomey Named Chair of Senate Steering Committee: United States Senator Pat Toomey was selected Thursday to be the next chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, according to a press release distributed by his office. He will take the post in early September.

Casey, Rubio Make Joint Call for Change in Syria: Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey has joined forces with Florida Senator Marco Rubio in a call for political change in Syria.

Planned Parenthood’s Bad Night: The conservative blog RedState takes a look at 3 PA races where the group was a campaign issue (or in one case a major stakeholder): a Dem primary, a GOP primary and a special election. They went 0 for 3.

Legislative Election Updates

We’ve collected the news reports from a few of the state house and senate races from Wednesday, here they are [winner, party, district]: Raja, R, SD-37; Adam Harris, R, HD-82; Marty Flynn, D, HD-113; Ryan Mackenzie, special, HD-134; Jordan Harris, D, HD-186; and Joseph Haas, D, HD-187.

SD-37: The Dems may have someone on the ballot against Raja in the fall. Greg Parks, a 50-year old former member of the Pleasant Hills Council, and current instructional assistant at McKeesport High School, says he got at least 500 of the 2,751 Dem write-in votes cast Tuesday.

HD-45: The PG looks at Rep. Nick Kotik’s win over Dem challenger Maribeth Taylor, a McKees Rocks Council member.

HD-46: Rep. Jesse White (D-Washington) was a top GOP target in 2010, but it looks like he’ll be unopposed in 2012. The lawmaker says he won the Republican write-in vote.

HD-50: Bill DeWeese may be out of the house, but his constituent service offices will remain open and running for the time being.

HD-66: The PA Independent looks at the narrow primary victory of Speaker Sam Smith in the context of his bill to shrink the state house (which would make incumbents safer). Also, meet Cris Dush, the man who almost beat Smith.

HD-77: Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre) may face a primary challenger. An unofficial reporter tally found former Worth Township supervisor Ron Reese with 876 Republican write-in votes and Conklin with 521.

HD-79: Rick Geist is down but not out. The Republican narrowly lost his primary to Joe McGinnis on Tuesday, but write-in votes won’t be counted till next week. If, as many expect, Geist wins the Dem nomination, he might pull a Joe Lieberman. About 400 absentee votes have yet to be counted, too. He faces a 196 vote deficit.

HD-89: Susan Spicka, the long-shot Dem facing Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), is challenging the incumbent to at least 3 debates.

HD-132: Allentown Councilman Mike Schlossberg is in the clear. Retiring Rep. Jennifer Mann’s ally will cruise to her seat without GOP opposition; no write-in candidate materialized. He was unopposed in the primary.

HD-143: Rep. Marguerite Quinn’s brother Sean Corr is facing accusations of theft after yanking down a four-foot sign on election day, placed by a supporter of Dem Joe Frederick. It read: “Marguerite Quinn Fracked You. Vote for Joe Frederick.”

HD-162: This is probably the last time we’ll be talking about Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R-Delaware) here. He made the ballot on a Democratic write-in, despite efforts by actual Dem Ken Harper to make it (see Harper’s fashionable ballot card here).

HD-182: It looks like Brian Sims will be PA’s first openly gay legislator, after taking out Rep. Babette Josephs in the Philly district where no Republican is on the ballot. The LGBT community has largely embraced his win.

Attention: It’s the general election now. If you’re a candidate and press@politicspa.com isn’t on your press list yet,

National:
Washington Post: Romney hires former Santorum CM Biundo
USA Today: Bachmann plans to back Romney ‘all in good time’
USA Today: Perry touts Romney’s vision in endorsement
The Caucus: Biden paints Romney as out of touch on foreign policy
Washington Post: Marco Rubio’s Dream Act alternative a challenge for Obama on illegal immigration
Politico: Toomey to head conservative policy group
Politico: Senate OKs violence against women bill
Politico: Falling in line for Mitt
The Hill: Boehner: Obama should pay back taxpayers for campaign trips
National Journal: Paul Ryan under attack from Catholics for hurting the poor in budget
Wall Street Journal: The shrinking Blue Dogs

Statewide:
KDKA: Jon Delano introduces Tom Smith, Republican for U.S. Senate
Capitolwire: Pileggi, Turzai say Raja win may rewrite Senate Allegheny redistricting map
Capitol Ideas: How Tim Holden lost the plot
Capitol Ideas: Former Sen. Bob Mellow ordered to repay $21K to the state
PA Independent: Mixed results in primary as Voter ID law preps for November
PA Independent: Defeated in primary election, Rick Geist might not be finished yet
Capitolwire: Scott Perry – from a tight lead in 7-way race to congressional rout
Capitolwire: Baggage may have cost two Scranton-area legislators their seats, observers say
LowerMorelandPatch: Allyson Schwartz receives awards for role in healthcare innovation
Reuters: Altered districts cut short Pennsylvania political careers

Philadelphia:
WHYY Newsworks: New Commissioner Schmidt tours e-day polling places
Daily News: John Baer: Kane seen as woman for job
Inquirer: Does Welch’s loss give Corbett a political black eye?
WHYY Newsworks: Bold proposal to re-cast schools gives me deja-vu

Pittsburgh:
Post-Gazette: Voter trends, labor support enabled Critz to oust Altmire
Post-Gazette: The few, the surprising: Diligent Pa. voters wake up a sleepy election
Early Returns: The crawling, creeping lie of Critz/Altmire
Early Returns: Ravenstahl’s counterargument
Early Returns: Union SuperPAC targets Pa
Early Returns: Clinton’s winning streak continues
Post-Gazette: Vote trends, labor support enabled Crits to oust Altmire
Post-Gazette: Campaign 2012: Kotik prevails in challenge
Post-Gazette: Raja victory follows long and bitter campaign
Post-Gazette: Voters oust long-serving state House members
Post-Gazette: DeWeese goes home after being sentenced
Tribune Review: Tea Party Express tour to leave today from W.Pa.

SEPA:
phillyburbs.com: Sen. Casey says legislation will create jobs

Southwest:
Observer-Reporter: Primary write-in winner
Observer-Reporter: 50th District services to see slight changes
Indiana Gazette: Commissioners move to buy site for homeless vet housing

NEPA:
Times-Tribune: Stilp campaign so low-key he almost forgot to vote
Citizens Voice: Low-key campaign produced big results for activist Stilp

Lehigh Valley:
Morning Call: Romney said his dad grew up poor. Did he?
Morning Call: Obama campaign details Pennsylvania-specific general election attack
Morning Call: Bethlehem mayor pushes Obama student loan message
WFMZ: Students hope for extension of low rate loans
WFMZ: Rohrer tops GOP-backed candidate; grassroots effort credited
Express Times: Lehigh County primary turnout less than 18 percent of registered voters, official says
Express Times: Mike Schlossberg is not challenged by write-in candidate for Rep. Jennifer Mann’s seat
Express Times: Rep. Tim Holden’s defeat dissected by political officials, analysts
Times Tribune: Fresh off historic win, Kane targets another
Times Tribune: NEPA legislative races remain volatile
Times Tribune: Stilp campaign so low-key he almost forgot to vote
Citizens Voice: Former Sen. Mellow ordered to pay $21,000
Citizens Voice: Low-key campaign produced big results for activist Stilp -Ben H
Standard Speaker: As Holden found out, voters in no mood for status quo
Pocono Record: Pa. voter ID law trial run met favorably by most at Pocono polls

South Central:
Patriot-News: Tuesday’s Pennsylvania primaries show money doesn’t always buy elections
Patriot-News: Ex-Sen. Bob Mellow fined for billing taxpayers for his rent in his building
Patriot-News: Low turnout for Pennsylvania primary is disappointing, political experts say
York Dispatch: Analyst: Democrats have tough road in the 4th
York Dispatch: Smooth Election Day for trial run of voter ID law
York Daily Record: In a change, congressional candidates from York County will compete for Harrisburg votes
York Daily Record: Casey challenger must unite GOP, raise cash
Lancaster Intelligencer: Pa. ethics commission fines ex-senator $21,000

North by Northwest:
Erie Times-News: Porter gives 3rd District race another shot
Centre Daily: Conklin may face challenge for seat
Centre Daily: Commissioners build relationships at CBICC breakfast
Courier Express: DuBois school budget process criticized

Opinion:
Daily News: Editorial: State, local governments need to plug in
Inquirer: Editorial: Voter ID test made some voters testy
York Daily Record: Our Take: How did Scott Perry do it?
Morning Call: Pa., not school districts, must fix pension, funding problems
Reading Eagle: Two surprises highlight the primary election results
Reading Eagle: Labor agreements benefit everyone
Express Times: Romney would have to be nuts to select Christie
The Times Leader: Understanding Democratic opposition to ID law
News Item: Independents and the primary: 12 percent in state weren’t allowed to vote
Standard Speaker: Take politics out of redistricting
Times News: Election stakes high
Sun Gazette: Low-key primary sets state for fall
Courier Express: Auditor general nominees ought not to politically double-dip, but should resign as legislators
Delco Daily Times: Op/Ed: Redistricting surprises Pa. voters at the polls
Patriot-News: Voice of the people? Hardly, when only 20 percent choose to vote
Post-Gazette: The few,the surprising:Diligent Pa. voters wake up sleepy election

Blogs:
Philadelphia Magazine: The Scoop: Philadelphians sorry for low voter turnout
Commonwealth Foundation: GAO sounds fiscal alarm on state Medicaid costs
Lehigh Valley Independent: Charlie Dent votes for a government shutdown in September
PA Water Cooler: Fattah: We’re buying your votes
PA Water Cooler: Blue Dog Dems lose, Party opts for left-wing extremists
Keystone Progress: Pennsylvania Consumers to get $24M back in rebates