Want to know which campaigns are off to a good start? Then follow the money. That’s what PoliticsPA will be doing this week when many of the 2010 campaigns report their fundraising numbers (they’re due to the FEC). Perhaps the most telling report will be from Joe Sestak’s campaign, beaten back in recent weeks by rough poll results that show him still far behind primary opponent Arlen Specter.
With Republican Mike Fitzpatrick officially in the race for his former seat against Rep. Patrick Murphy (D), the 8th District becomes another key battleground to pay attention to in SEPA. Though the races in the neighboring 6th and 7th will likely produce even closer tallies, Fitzpatrick is a proven candidate who will hit the ground running.
In Harrisburg, the boys are back in town as the legislature re-convenes. Yesterday they finally pushed forward a bill to ban texting and talking on hand-held cell phones while driving. Today, House Republicans are expected to name a replacement for House Appropriations Minority Chairman Mario Civera, who will soon resign to take his seat full-time on the Delaware County council. Whoever replaces him will be thrown into what many still expect to be a very difficult budget negotiation. And speaking of the budget, yes, it’s that time of year again. With the governor’s budget address scheduled for early next month, expect each side to outline their spending priorities in the coming weeks.
Finally, this weekend’s Progressive Summit in Harrisburg brings together the Democratic guberantorial candidates for the first time since Tom Knox’s exit. Expect each campaign, particularly Dan Onorato’s and Joe Hoeffel’s, to work overtime spinning his departure in his favor. It will also be interesting to see how the two conservative Democrats, Onorato and Jack Wagner, are received by the progressive crowd.
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