Election day is almost here, and PoliticsPA is kicking into high gear. Check back all day and tomorrow for election previews for races across the state, updates from the campaign trail, and results when they come in.

Someone has kicked the bees nest that is Cumberland County Republican politics. Apparently, pranksters recorded a robocall from Gary Eichelberger and Kirk Wilson, then sent it back out between 10pm and 1am. A media frenzy (by central PA standards) ensued, and all of a sudden its a top issue in the waning hours of the Commissioner race.

Tom Corbett goes under today. His office announced today that the Governor will undergo routine back surgery in Pittsburgh. Unlike President Reagan, he needn’t wonder if his doctor is Republican – the surgeon donated $2,000 to Corbett last year. And until he resumes duty tomorrow, congrats to acting-Governor Cawley.

Mike Huckabee made Rick Santorum’s Saturday night. The popular former Arkansas Governor announced he won’t be seeking the Presidency in 2012, potentially freeing up socially conservative voters upon which Santorum’s narrow hopes are pinned.

And finally, the AP reports on the critical backlog of campaign finance records at the PA Department of State. Some 2010 haven’t yet made it online, meaning that for people outside of driving distance from Harrisburg are essentially in the dark about contributions and influence.

Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz

PoliticsPA Reports

Phony Robocalls Muddy Cumberland County GOP Primary
A bevy of 1am robocalls has an incumbent commissioner calling for an investigation of the the local Republican committee.  It’s just another day in Cumberland County GOP politics.

Huckabee Withdrawal Boosts Santorum
Mike Huckabee made Rick Santorum’s Saturday night. The popular former Governor of Arkansas announced his decision not to run for President in 2012, freeing up an important bloc of GOP primary voters – those to whom opposition to abortion and gay marriage are key issues.

Gov. Corbett To Have Routine Back Surgery Today
Governor Corbett will undergo routine back surgery to treat spinal stenosis, a form of pressure on the spinal cord caused by the aging process, the Governor’s office announced on Friday.

Sen. Casey and Gas Politics
It’s no secret that gas prices are through the roof. Dependence on foreign oil has been accredited as the culprit. Many have been left wondering what the solution to these high prices will be. United States Senator Bob Casey offered two potential answers.

Benefits for Same-Sex Couples Expanding in Pa.
Easton is poised to be the latest in a chain of Pennsylvania cities to extend benefits to same-sex couples.

Mathison Concludes Runs Across Pa. to Raise Redistricting Awareness
Paul Mathison set out on a 1,022 mile, one-lap test of human endurance on April 1st, jogging away among friends, press, and snowflakes. Mathison chose to jog across the state of Pennsylvania to inspire a reform of political redistricting, which is due to occur this year.

Headlines
AP: Budget woes hurt access to campaign finance data
Post-Gazette: EPA Says No To Pa. Gas Waiver
Times-Tribune: Rep. Barletta Addresses Lackawanna College Grads
Delaware County Times: Lentz Apologizes To Campaign Workers
York Sunday News: Former U.S. Congressman Goodling Back on the Go After Recovery From Burst Brain Aneurysm
Inquirer: Rarely Used, Pa.’s Death Penalty Remains A Headache On Both Sides Of The Debate
Capitol Ideas: The Lingering Problem of Transportation Funding
Times-Tribune: Bills Mandate Proof of ID To Vote, Work, and Receiver Public Benefits
WHYY Newsworks: Bragging Rights Figure In Rites of Passage in Legislature
WHYY Newsworks: Natural Gas Company Drilling Again Following Fracking Leak
AP: Paper: 3,579 Pa. State Workers Make Over $100,000
AP: Pa. Primary Should Thin Out Field of Candidates
Daily News: Ethics Probers Are All Over Council Office Of Donna Miller
Inquirer: Many Active Races in Phila.
Inquirer: Low Turnout Elections Can Bring Big Surprises
Inquirer: Some Subplots Worth Following On Tuesday
WHYY Newsworks: Some NW Philly Voting Venues Veer From The Norm
Inquirer: In Philadelphia, A Ballot Question On Jobs Panel
Daily News: GOP Group A Loyal Pain For Philly’s Old Guard
Inquirer: Rendell Endorses Bass in Eighth City Council District
WHYY Newsworks: A Germantown Imam’s View On The Election
AP: Corbett factor, Marcellus Shape Allegheny Co. Race
NBC Pittsburgh: Councilwoman’s Campaign HQ Vandalised
Tribune-Review: Primary to Set Tone for Pittsburgh Politics
Early Returns: Bogus Backers?
Inquirer: A Quiet Season In Philly Suburbs
Inquirer: Montgomery County Voter Rolls Accidentally Inflated By 3,000 Voters
Patriot-News: Campaign Mailing Attacking Dauphin County Commissioner Candidate Eric Papenfuse Is ‘Outright Falsehood’
Times-News: Four Democrats Run For Ashley Council
Times-Leader: County Council Facing Overhaul As Part Of New Home Rule Style
ABC Pittsburgh: Supervisors Charged With Stealing Gas From Township Supply
AP: Less for Pennsylvania Shelters, hospitals in latest budget plan
AP: Hershey, sheriff hopeful spar over campaign signs
Lebanon Daily News: Politics is their cup of tea
Lancaster Online: Manheim Township splits on spending
The Evening Sun: Union rallies over eastern PA. hospital dispute (Associated Press)
The Morning Call: Politics as Usual
The Morning Call:  Gun groups urge “Castle Doctrine” broadening
The Morning Call:  Corbett defends his budget cuts
The Morning Call:  Corbett going under the knife
WFMZ News:  Senators Respond To Governor’s Plan
WFMZ News:  Report: Medicare, Social Security To Run Out Years Earlier Than Expected
Citizens’ Voice: Another budget balancing act
Times Leader:The election like no other
Times Leader: Two incumbents among 21 candidates seeking W-B city council spot
PennLive.Com: Harrisburg Can’t Seem to Catch A Break.
The Patriot-News: State Lawmakers Push For More Behind the Wheel Training for Teenagers.
The Patriot-News: Rental Inspections Cause Elizabethville Council Race to Heat Up.
The Gettysburg Times: Candidates for Adams County Commissioner Meet Public Again.
Associated Press: Less for Pennsylvania Shelters, Hospitals in latest budget plan.
York Daily Record: Four Incumbents, Four Challengers Vying for Eastern York Board.
Altoona Mirror: Much at stake in primaries
Post-Gazette: Belt tightening focus of low-key primaries
Post-Gazette: Two city council incumbents complain of friction with mayor
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh school board candidate drops out of race
Observer Reporter : Bethlehem-Center board mulls ways to remove $1.2M
Beaver County Times : County Commissioner: Three candidates, two spots
CNN News: Newt Gingrich says judge me on what I can do rather than the mistakes I’ve made
FOX news: Huckabee bows out- supports Mit Romney in quote
FOX news: Washington lawmakers playing nice on budget – deficit reduction needed
Politico: Obama polls well amid bad omens-Obama is immune to economic fears
The Citizen: Tyrone Talks FY 2011 budget; millage rate to remain steady
Tribune Live: Dunbar, Everson borough candidates should be shoo-ins
Pittsburgh Live: Six townships in Fayette see competition in primary
Post-Gazette:Raja touts business experience in his bid for county executive
Post-Gazette: Dem Allegheny County exec candidates debate shale, transit
Post-Gazette:  State judicial candidates on ballot in Tuesday primary
Post-Gazette:Primary 2011/North: Allegheny County candidates
WSLS: Alleghany consolidation education campaign to be discussed at May meeting

Opinions
Inquirer, Column: Back Channels: A Conversation With Rick Santorum
Michael Smerconish, Inquirer: Head Strong: Can Patrick Murphy Make History With Run For Attorney General?
Ed Matthews, Times-News: Plan To Vote On Tuesday
Times-News, Editorial: Retaining Leighton As Mayor Will Only Help Continue Wiles-Barre’s Progress
The Evening Sun: Writer wrong about citizenship
The Evening Sun: An important bill for Adams County
The Morning Call:  Corbett stickers were great
Citizens’ Voice: Toomey draws some friendly fire
Citizens’ Voice: Paying severance tax, not politicians, easier for drillers
Citizens’ Voice: Campus drilling suggestions ignores simplest rule
AP: Pa. primary should thin out field of candidates
Times Leader: Will backgrounds factor into election?
Baer Growls: “Dr. No” says yes
Patriot News Editorial: A no-brainer: Surplus state funds should be allocated to our schools
Patriot News Editorial : Patriot News Editorial: Public notices: Keep’em in the newspapers
Lehigh Valley Independent : Primary endorsements
Pottstown Mercury: Legislatures continue to ignore the will of the people
Pottstown Mercury: If you tax it, they will leave
Pittsburgh Tribune Review : Smaller is better? Not necessarily
Pittsburgh Tribune Review : Primary Endorsements
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Public Notices: Stay the course
The Times Tribune: Corbett right to play ball
The Patriot-News: Westboro Baptist Church gives Baptists a Bad Name.
The Patriot-News: Q&A with Representative Todd Platts on debts, partisanship, and bin Laden.
Go Erie: Erie School District’s nightmare is financial deja vu all over again
Post-Gazette: Phony response: The Pa. House uses a clinic tragedy to hurt women
Post-Gazette: Primary duty: Here are the PG’s picks for Tuesday’s vote