Joe Miller shocked the Republican establishment last year with his long-shot primary victory over incumbent Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. Senate Candidate Marc Scaringi is hoping to capture some of the magic. Scaringi this week welcomed Miller Communications Director Randy DeSoto to his campaign.

Call it the first television ad of the 2012 cycle in Pennsylvania. An independent group called Accountability PA will be airing a 30 second ad criticizing Pat Meehan’s vote in favor of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget.

If you missed last night’s GOP presidential debate, Colby Itkowitz at the Morning Call has a summary of Rick Santorum’s performance.

28 years, $1.2 million. That’s the sentence crooked “kids for cash” judge Mark Ciavarella received yesterday.

During the debt ceiling debate Senator Pat Toomey filled the role of the partisan warrior — vigorously advocating for hard line fiscal conservative principles. During a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Toomey indicated that on the “super committee” he would be open to pursue a sort of grand bargain.

Laureen Cummings, the founder of the Scranton Tea Party, is mulling a run against Bob Casey in 2012. She submitted an op-ed this week to the Delaware County Daily Times entitled “Casey, Dems provide no solutions to debt.”

Redistrict Philadelphia And Win! Several organizations with their home base in Philadelphia have joined together and invite the public to take part in a contest to “Fix Philly Districts.” The creator of the best redistricted map will be rewarded a $500 cash prize; four runner-ups will be rewarded with an Amazon Kindle.

And Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky threw his support behind Michael Nutter after the Mayor’s impassioned speech about recent mob violence in the city – racial themes and all.

National
New York Times: Panel Seeks Stiffer Rules For Drilling of Gas Wells
New York Times: 6 Republicans Named to Deficit Reduction Panel
Politico: Debt Default Skeptics Fueled Ratings Downgrade
Politico: A Rich Man, Poor Man Cast
Inquirer: Sen. Toomey, Named To Deficit Super-Committee, Says He’s Open-Minded, Except On Taxes
Capitol Ideas: Santorum’s fate rests with the good people of Ames, Iowa
WHYY Newsworks: NRC Approves Cyber Security Plans At Oyster Creek, Limerick Nuclear Plants
The Hill: Former Gov. Rendell and Arizona mayor Scott Smith argue transportation spending is ‘right stimulus’

Statewide
Capitol Ideas: More Headaches for the Corbett Administration
WITF: House Panel hears more testimony on privatizing liquor sales
WITF: State liquor board says privatizing will cost you; feds call for full disclosure of fracking chemicals
State Impact – NPR: Pennsylvania groups respond to Department of Energy Fracking Report
State Impact – NPR: Department of Energy Pushes for Baseline Water Testing
State Impact – NPR: Department of Energy calls for greater frack fluid disclosure
Commonwealth Confidential: Gov. Corbett Cabinet Capers Continue
Post-Gazette: Pa. Heating Help Called Fraud-Ridden
AP: PLCB, Union Blast Privatization Plan At Hearing
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Insurance Department Seeks Input On Exchanges
WHYY Newsworks: A Closer Look At Pa. Laws Written By Lobbyists
PhillyNow: State Sen. Anthony Williams Suggests SRC Is ‘Marginalizing’ Ackerman
Morning Call: Watching Toomey’s line in the sand
WFMZ: Liquor Official Opposes Privatization At Hearing
The Patriot News: Incident with welfare official the latest headache for Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration

Philly
PhillyNow: Mayoral Candidate Diop Olugbala Denounces Nutter’s Curfew Plan
Heard In The Hall: City Pension Board Creates ‘Strategic’ Funds
Heard In The Hall: Tardy Candidates Face Fines
Fox Philadelphia: Is Race Behind Teen Mob Attacks?
ABC Philadelphia: Philly Housing Authority Adds NYC Housing Official
Inquirer: Ackerman Backers Say She Is Being Bypassed
Inquirer: City Gets Its First Chief Innovation Officer
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia Lawyer Resigns From Postal Service Board During Ethics Investigation
PR Newswire: Rep. Fattah’s Busy Week of Recess Appearances: A Visit Today to UPS Facility and Drivers in South Philadelphia

Philly Suburbs
Courier Times: Fitzpatrick: Cuts, Taxes Won’t Solve Debt Woes Alone
The Mercury: Liquor Privatization Plan Focus Of 2nd Hearing
Daily Times: MoveOn.org members rally at Meehan office (With Video)

Pittsburgh
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Cliff ‘Em All
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Luzerne ex-judge gets 28 year sentence
Early Returns: Norquist: Toomey is great
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: $1 million in legal costs tallied for Pittsburgh firm
KDKA:  Sen. Toomey: Tax Hike Would Harm U.S. Economy
KDKA:  Local Political Official Arraigned on Aggravated Assault Charges

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Changes to mandated wage laws could mean savings for taxpayers
Altoona Mirror: Zoning board shoots down East Coast sign
Beaver County Times: Greene Twp. officials visit FirstEnergy site
Beaver County Times: Former manager sues Moon Township, supervisors

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Schwank tells municipal officials cooperation necessary to procure state funds
Lehigh Valley Live: Greenpeace activists protest Portland Generating Station emissions with blimp-like aircraft
Lehigh Valley Live: Bids come in $1 million over budget for Forks Township public works project

NEPA
The Times Leader: Corbett highlights river as asset
Early Returns:Corbett paddles through NEPA
Early Returns: Pgh Council officially inconsequential

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: PSU to receive $5 million grant
Erie Times-News: City Council hears update on property reassessment
Erie Times-News: Sinnott to present midyear report to Erie City Council
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Groundwater cleanup plan for Muncy area submitted to DEP

Opinions
Stu Bykofsky, Daily News: Nutter’s tirade on mobs needed to be said
Fox Philadelphia: Race In America: Mayor’s Shame Comments, Teen Mob Violence
Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Editorial: Ignorance, stupidity or connivance?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Editorial: Rush to filly: The county is right to spurn city council’s maneuver
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Editorial: Harm’s way: America’s losses mount in a tragic, difficult war
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Editorial: Protect hunting and fishing in the Marcellus Shale region